Al-Hilal attempt to breach Fluminense

NEW YORK, USA. Of all match-ups at the quarterfinal stage of the Fifa Club World Cup here in the USA, the duel between Brazilian club Fluminense and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal was least expected.

The South American giant shocked 2025 Uefa Champions League finalists Inter Milan 2-0 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina while Al-Hilal pulled off a heist to eject Manchester City 4-3 after extra-time at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida early this week.

The two results are still the talk of the tournament, even though tournament hosts USA are also carrying divided attention after beating Guatemala 2-1 in Missouri to reach the final of the Concacaf Gold Cup.

Hilal in particular, quietened a number of voices from Europe with a historic victory over Pep Guardiola’s outfit. Previously, no Asian club had beaten a European club in the 25-year history of the Club World Cup.

And Camping World will again be the spot of attention as Fluminense faces Hilal in the first quarterfinal of the tournament tonight.

With that resounding victory, Simone Inzaghi’s team Hilal is up for a big test. They must breach Fluminense’s solid backline to continue their fairytale run.

Fluminense under coach Renato Gaucho have kept three clean sheets in four matches and that water-proof defence has earned them more days on the east coast.

Against Inter Milan, Gaucho deployed a 3-5-2 system where skipper 40-year-old Thiago Silva was supported by Juan Pablo Freytes and Ignacio thereby keeping the Italian opponents at bay.

“It’s not easy to play against European teams, but the motivation for us is different,” remarked Silva. “I’m very proud of my team and myself as well, because ten days ago I had a hamstring injury. Now we need to recover well because after three or four days we have to play again. I’m not young, you know? So I need to recover well,” he spoke to Fifa.

Fluminense has scored just six times and in two matches with German Cano netting a brace against Inter. He is expected to lead the line again with Jhon Arias yet there are no guarantees. 

Al-Hilal, who are owned by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (Pif), boast of the prolific goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and experienced backline with Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly and Renan Lodi.

The Moroccan shot-stopper Bounou has saved 85 percent of the shots he has faced in the tournament including keeping City out 10 of the 13 attempts they made.

The 2023 Club World Cup finalists Hilal is yet to lose a match and they are banking on a Brazilian - Marcos Leonardo - who stunned City with a brace. “I’ve had a difficult time in the last two months,” Leonardo said.

“My mother spent 70 days in the Intensive Care Unit. Today she’s fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her - she was able to watch the match. We have to think about our families - people who want the best for us. If they weren’t watching, I wouldn't be here today.”

The former Santos and Benfica forward Leonardo has netted thrice in two straight matches and he has support from ex-Lazio man Sergej Milinković-Savić, former Barcelona player Malcom and set-piece specialist Ruben Neves.

The winner will face either Palmeiras or Chelsea in the semifinal in New Jersey on Tuesday. Chelsea will face Palmeiras in the second quarterfinal at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early hours of tomorrow.

And this is a repeat of the 2022 tournament where Chelsea beat the Palmeiras after extra time. Unlike Chelsea, Palmeiras is yet to lose a match in the USA and their coach Abel Ferreira was in charge of Palmeiras even three years hence revenge is on their minds.

Ferreira is keen on his notes. Palmeiras eliminated fellow Brazilian club Botafogo at the last 16 stage and four of their five goals in the tournament have been scored by substitutes.

“Never give up, never give in. All the time, we work for this. I would like to say thank you to my players for all their efforts,” Ferreira said after the win over Botafogo.

He will do without suspended Uruguayan Joaquin Piquerez but Chelsea-bound Estevao will feature. Chelsea, which beat Benfica 4-1 after a weather delay and extra-time looks different already.

They have added striker Joao Pedro to their ranks whereas Nicolas Jackson is back from a two-match suspension but Moses Caicedo is suspended after being booked against Benfica.

 2025 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

QUARTERFINAL FIXTURES

Friday 

Fluminense vs. Al-Hilal, 10pm

Saturday 

Palmeiras vs. Chelsea, 1am

PSG vs. Bayern, 7pm

Real vs. Dortmund, 11pm

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

CURRENT TOP SCORERS

4 Goals: Ángel Di María (Benfica)

3 Goals: Kenan Yıldız (Juventus), Phil Foden & Erling Haaland (Man City), Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala & Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund), Gonzalo García (Real Madrid), Germán Berterame (Monterrey), Marcos Leonardo (Al-Hilal), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Wessam Abou Ali (Al Ahly)