Manchester City Set to Face Fluminense in Club World Cup Final
Manchester City, led by manager Pep Guardiola, will take on Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense in the final of the 2023 Club World Cup on Friday. The highly anticipated match will be held at King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddah.
In their journey to the final, Manchester City secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds. Second-half goals from Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva, along with an own goal from Marius Høibråten, sealed their place in the final. This win puts City in a position to become World Champions, having already won every other trophy under their Treble-winning coach.
Their opponents, Fluminense, emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly. Jhon Arias and John Kennedy found the back of the net to secure their spot in the final, displaying their strength as this is their first appearance in a Club World Cup.
Fluminense, the oldest club in Rio de Janeiro, was founded in 1902 by English Brazilian Oscar Cox. They don a distinctive green, white, and grenadine kit and share the iconic Maracana Stadium with rivals Flamengo. The club has won the Brazilian Serie A four times, most recently in 2012. Some notable former players include Chelsea defender Thiago Silva and Brazilian legend Carlos Alberto.
Fluminense’s journey to the Club World Cup final began when they clinched their first Copa Libertadores title in November. They topped their group by defeating teams like River Plate and overcame tough opponents such as Argentinos Juniors, Club Olimpia, and Internacional to secure their place in the final. In an intense encounter, Fluminense triumphed over Boca Junior with a 2-1 victory in extra time, sending 70,000 fans at the Maracana into raptures.
Fluminense boasts key players such as Marcelo, a former Real Madrid left back who has won the Club World Cup four times. Felipo Melo, who had notable stints at Inter Milan and Juventus, adds experience to the squad. Another significant player is midfielder Ganso, who previously played for Sevilla and Amiens.
Fluminense’s unique style of play, implemented by manager Fernando Diniz, has garnered significant attention. Known as the ‘Brazilian Guardiola’, Diniz’s tactics involve extreme positional rotation, creating numerous attacking passing options and making it challenging for opponents to defend against. While both Diniz and Guardiola prioritize possession-based attacking football, Diniz clarified that his style is anti-positional, in contrast to Guardiola’s positional approach.
With the final just around the corner, Manchester City and Fluminense are eager to give their all and claim the title of Club World Champions. The match promises to be an exciting encounter, showcasing the clash of two highly skilled teams aiming to etch their names in football history.
