Flamengo vs Al Hilal betting tips: FIFA Club World Cup semi-final preview, predictions and odds

Updated: July 05, 2023 at 5:14 am GMT+1

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Match preview

Just over three years after their first FIFA Club World Cup meeting, Flamengo and Al Hilal go head-to-head again.

In December 2019, they clashed at the semi-final stage in Qatar, with Al Hilal on course for a shock victory when Salem Al-Dawsari broke the deadlock.

Nevertheless, second half goals from Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique, followed by a late Ali Al-Bulaihi own goal, saw the Brazilian club advance 3-1.

Will this got the same way?

Back in October, Flamengo captured their third Copa Libertadores title, overcoming Athletico Paranaense 1-0 in the final, with Gabriel Barbosa the only scorer.

When they were first South American champions in 1981, Rubro-Negro were also crowned champions of the world, beating Liverpool 3-0 in that years Intercontinental Cup.

38 years later, those two met again, this time in the Club World Cup Final, with the English club prevailing on this occasion.

Here, will Vítor Pereira’s team book their place in Saturday’s final against Real Madrid of Al Ahly?

Al Hilal meanwhile have won the AFC Champions League in both 2019 and 2021, so are making their second appearance at this tournament.

At the weekend, the Blue Wave began their campaign against hosts Wydad Casablanca, and snuck through in dramatic circumstances.

Ramón Díaz’s team looked set to head home until, in the 94th minute, Mohamed Kanno’s penalty snatched a 1-1 draw.

In the subsequent shootout, Wydad’s first spot-kick thwacked against both posts and, somehow, stayed out.

Moussa Marega, Luciano Vietto, Saleh Al-Shehri, Abdullah Al-Hamdan and Musab Al-Juwayr all made no mistake from 12 yards as Al Hilal, against the odds, snuck through.

So now, if they’re to become the first Saudi Arabian club to reach the final of this competition, they’ll have to get revenge against Flamengo.

Will the Brazilian outfit be too strong at Ibn Batouta Stadium?