Manchester City, the reigning Champions League holders, secured their spot in the final by defeating Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds. Despite a challenging domestic performance with only one win in their last six Premier League games, City bounced back with a convincing 3-0 win in the semi-finals, marking their debut in the tournament.
A breakthrough own goal from Marius Hoibraten and second-half strikes from Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva paved the way for Pep Guardiola's team to advance.
The victory was quickly followed by another accolade, as Manchester City was named Team of the Year at the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, acknowledging their treble success and UEFA Super Cup triumph.
Now, the Citizens stand on the brink of history, aiming to become the first English club to secure five trophies in a calendar year and join the ranks of Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea as Club World Cup winners.
Guardiola, with past Club World Cup triumphs at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, understands the importance of the occasion. Ahead of the final against Fluminense, he has emphasized the need for his players to rest and create a positive environment for this pivotal moment in the club's history.
Fluminense, having lifted the Copa Libertadores just seven weeks prior, earned their place in the Club World Cup final by defeating Al Ahly 2-0 in the semi-finals. Jhon Arias converted a penalty in the 71st minute, and John Kennedy, the hero in the Copa Libertadores final, sealed the victory with a late goal.
Fernando Diniz, often referred to as the 'Brazilian Guardiola,' rejects the comparison, highlighting his team's "positional" style in contrast to City's possession-based approach. Despite ending the Brasileiro campaign in seventh place, Diniz remains confident that Fluminense can follow in the footsteps of Corinthians and upset the odds to become the Club World Cup champions.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
In the Manchester City camp, the trio of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jeremy Doku are back in training after dealing with injuries to their foot, hamstring, and muscle, respectively.However, they won't be available for Friday's final due to tournament regulations stipulating that only the same 23 players chosen for the semi-finals can participate in the showcase event.
Defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are vying for comebacks, aiming to fortify the backline in front of Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson. In midfield, Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, who impressed in Tuesday's match, hope to secure their spots alongside Rodri.
There's a possibility that Julian Alvarez might start up front, potentially leading to Nunes making way, while Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden could shift into advanced midfield roles alongside Jack Grealish on the left.
On the Fluminense side, they enjoy a clean bill of health, and coach Diniz is likely to field the same lineup that started against Al Ahly. Notably, 43-year-old goalkeeper Fabio is set to become the oldest player to grace the Club World Cup final. In defense, 40-year-old Felipe Melo is poised to be the oldest outfield player, likely partnering with Nino at center-back.
Marcelo, the former Real Madrid left-back, is on track to become the second player to participate in five Club World Cup finals, following Toni Kroos (six).
In the midfield, the sought-after Andre, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League, is expected to team up with Matheus Martinelli. Upfront, German Cano, boasting an impressive record of 40 goals in 59 games for Fluminense in 2023, could receive support from Arias, Ganso, and Keno.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester City possible starting lineup:Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, Foden, Grealish; Alvarez
Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Xavier, Nino, Melo, Marcelo; Andre, Martinelli; Arias, Ganso, Keno; Cano
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester City 2-1 Fluminense
Despite the absence of Haaland, De Bruyne, and Doku, Guardiola's team is still widely expected to be the clear favorites. Their dynamic play in the attacking third might prove overwhelming for Fluminense's aging defense, which has managed only four clean sheets in their last 18 games across various competitions.
