Borussia Dortmund vs Fluminense Preview

The Java Herald - The FIFA Club World Cup is underway. In the opening match, Inter Miami were held to a draw by Egyptian side Al Ahly. Lionel Messi and co. were shut down by Al Ahly’s rock-solid defense.

In the opening game of Group F, Borussia Dortmund will face Fluminense. The German side is a tough opponent, especially when playing away from home. They have several dangerous attacking weapons capable of threatening up front, while their defense is also quite solid. Die Borussen ended the Bundesliga season in fourth place, behind Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, and Bayern Munich.

Borussia Dortmund striker Guirassy finished second in the Bundesliga top scorer chart for the 2024/2025 season, scoring a total of 21 goals. First place went to Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane with 26 goals. At the back, die Schwarzgelben didn’t fare too badly either, conceding only 51 goals. In the 2025 season, they recorded 26 wins in 50 matches.

On the other side, Fluminense should not be underestimated. The Brazilian team won the 2024 Supercopa Sudamericana. They currently sit in fifth place in Brazil’s top-flight league, Série A. One of their players, Kevin Serna, is currently ranked 10th in the Brazilian top scorer chart with 9 goals. Dortmund are certainly the favorites to top the group, and the German team will be aiming for a perfect start on Tuesday.

Fluminense are expected to progress as runners-up from Group F, ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD, but a victory on Tuesday would significantly boost their chances of a surprise first-place finish.

With that, Borussia Dortmund are widely tipped to win the upcoming match. Julian Brandt and co. are likely to field a similar lineup, with Kobel in goal. German international Niklas Süle is expected to play as center-back, alongside Anton and Bensebaini in defense. Ryerson will lead Dortmund’s midfield, supported by Gross, Nmecha, and Svensson. Up front, Germany’s key man Julian Brandt will join Guirassy and Adeyemi in attack.

On the other side, Fluminense are expected to start Fabio in goal, supported by Xavier, former Chelsea player Thiago Silva, Freytes, and Rene in defense. In midfield, Hercules, Martinelli, and Ganso will feature, while the Rio de Janeiro side’s front three will consist of Arias, Cano, and Serna. With that, here is the predicted lineup for the upcoming match:

Fluminense: Fabio – Xavier, Silva, Freytes, Rene – Hercules, Martinelli, Ganso – Arias, Cano, SernaBorussia Dortmund: Kobel – Süle, Anton, Bensebaini – Ryerson, Gross, Nmecha, Svensson – Brandt, Adeyemi – Guirassy

That concludes the preview for Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund. The match will be broadcast on DAZN. ***