Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo succeeded in topping Group D of the FIFA Club World Cup ahead of Chelsea. However, this achievement has set them up for a challenging encounter in the round of 16, facing German giants Bayern Munich.
Bayern started their Club World Cup campaign with a dominant 10-0 victory against Auckland City before narrowly defeating Boca Juniors 2-1. In their final group match, Bayern, with their place in the knockout stage already secured, suffered a 1-0 loss to Benfica.
Team news
Both teams were able to rotate players in the last group matches and are expected to field their strongest lineups on Sunday.
Flamengo will be without Nicolas de la Cruz, but Gerson, Erick Pulgar, Jorginho, Ayrton Lucas, Leo Pereira, and Gonzalo Plata are set to start.
Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Kingsley Coman, and Jonathan Tah are likely to return to Bayern's starting lineup.
The stats
Flamengo currently lead Brazil’s Serie A with 24 points from 11 matches.
Bayern have suffered two defeats in their last 11 games.
Flamengo had an expected goals (xG) of 3.0 in their 3-1 victory over Chelsea.
Flamengo have kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 matches.
Prediction
Bayern are the clear favorites to win, but as significant underdogs, Flamengo present an enticing prospect in this intriguing Club World Cup clash.
Flamengo displayed dominance in their 3-1 triumph over Chelsea and come into this match fresh after making changes for their final group game against LAFC.
Bayern are yet to hit their stride in the tournament. While they had convincing wins against Auckland City and Boca Juniors, the drawn result of Boca Juniors against Auckland suggests that Bayern may not be in peak form in the USA.
Flamengo's coach Filipe Luis has built a solid defensive unit, which could give them an advantage over Bayern.
Bayern wrapped up the Bundesliga title early and faced Benfica when already qualified, lacking a serious test in the group stages.
On the other hand, Flamengo are in competitive mode as they entered the competition during the ongoing Brazilian Serie A season.
Flamengo have had the opportunity to gain momentum in their previous matches and have strong support at the competition, notably drawing a large crowd for their victory over Chelsea.
They appear poised to potentially cause an upset against Bayern on Sunday.