Kicking off their FIFA Club World Cup campaigns, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund face off at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The bookmakers expect both of these teams to navigate their way out of Group F ,where they have been drawn alongside Sundowns FC and Ulsan.
Borussia Dortmund are heavily fancied to take top honours in the section, with the German giants as short as 4/9 on Boylesports to emerge as group winners
Niko Kovac’s side will come into the competition in high spirits after storming their way to a top-four finish in the Bundesliga, winning seven of their final eight matches of the season.
While Fluminense are currently occupying sixth place in the Brazilian top-flight, they did sign off from their domestic duties with back-to-back victories.
Renato Gaucho’s side also have some decent Club World Cup pedigree to call upon, finishing as runners-up to Manchester City in 2023.
How the bookies view it: BVB big favourites
With Borussia Dortmund expected to win the group, it’s no surprise to see them as short-priced 1/2 favourites to triumph in their Group F opener on Tuesday evening.
Fluminense are unfancied 4/1 underdogs ion Boylesports, while the draw is also considered unlikely at 16/5 with the same firm.
Head to head: History book blank
Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund will come up against each other for the first time ever on Tuesday evening. This will mark the Bundesliga heavyweights’ maiden appearance at the Club World Cup, while Fluminense graced the tournament for the first time two years ago.
Players to watch: Another goal for Guirassy?
Serhou Guirassy ended the Bundesliga season in blistering form, netting six times across his final five appearances of the campaign. Thus, the Borussia Dortmund goal-getter holds plenty of appeal to get himself on the scoresheet here at 10/11 with Boylesports.
At the ripe age of 39, the familiar face of Thiago Silva will be marshalling Fluminense’s backline. Up against a Dortmund frontline full of pace and flair, the veteran centre-half stands out to commit a minimum of one foul during this contest at 5/6 with PaddyPower.
Predicted line-ups
Fluminense will be unable to call upon the services of Agustin Canobbio, Facundo Bernal and Otavio, with none of the trio expected to feature at this year’s Club World Cup.
After completing his move from Sunderland, Jobe Bellingham is in line to make his debut for Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening, though it may be from the substitute bench.
Fluminense: Fabio; Xavier, Freytes, Silva, Rene; Nonato, Santos, Martinelli; Arias, Everaldo, Serna
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Sule, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Brandt, Guirassy, Adeyemi
Anything else catch the eye?
With Borussia Dortmund too short to side with at the aforementioned price of 1/2, instead look for them to triumph alongside over 1.5 goals at 4/5 on Boylesports.
This combination is one that could represent a bit of value given that it clicked in each of BVB’s final seven league wins of the Bundesliga season.
What’s more, each of Fluminense’s three defeats in the Brazilian top-flight this term have featured a minimum of two match goals, and that only adds to the appeal of siding with a repeat on Tuesday evening.
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