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Inter Milan vs Fluminense Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Round of 16

by Alex Lawes · June 26 2025, 13:55
Updated June 27 2025, 16:57
Inter Milan vs Fluminense Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Round of 16
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Internazionale have endured a difficult few weeks but they are in the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup as they prepare to take on Fluminense this weekend.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN & Channel 5 / US – DAZN

Inter Milan team news: A few issues

Sebastiano Esposito scored a crucial goal for the Nerazzurri against River Plate the other day so he should get back into the eleven as Marcus Thuram edges his way back to fitness. Hakan Calhanoglu has remained out of the squad due to injury throughout the groups.

Predicted XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Esposito

Unavailable: 

Questionable: Pavard (Injured), Calhanoglu (Injured), Thuram (Fitness)

Fluminense team news: Nothing fresh

There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for Fluminense to deal with as Thiago Silva was rested the other day but he should come back into the eleven for the Round of 16. Yosimar Soteldo remains sidelined for the Brazilian giants.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Fabio; Samuel Xavier, Silva, Freytes, Rene; Hercules, Matheus Martinelli; Jhon Arias, Nonato, Agustin Canobbio; German Cano

Unavailable: Yosimar Soteldo (Injured)

Questionable: 

Key stats

  • This is the first FIFA competition match between these teams. Inter have never faced a Brazilian team in a FIFA competition and this is Fluminense’s first encounter against a club from Italy.
  • This is the first encounter between Italian and Brazilian teams at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
  • Inter defeated South American opponents in their final group stage match, beating River Plate 2-0. Fluminense opened their campaign with a 0-0 draw against a European team in Borussia Dortmund.
  • Both teams progressed through to the knockout phase without losing a match; Inter (W2 D1 L0), Fluminense (W1 D2 L0).
  • Inter have lost just one of their last ten matches in all competitions (W6 D3 L1).
  • Inter are unbeaten in their last nine competitive matches against non-European teams (W7 D2 L0).
  • Inter have scored in second half added time in their last two matches at the FIFA Club World Cup.
  • Fluminense are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions, winning six and drawing three (W6 D3 L0).
  • Fluminense have kept four clean sheets in their last five competitive games.
  • Inter have kept seven clean sheets in their last nine competitive matches against non-European teams (W7 D2 L0).
  • Fluminense head coach Renato Gaúcho played in Italy with Roma in 1988/89. His opposite number Cristian Chivu is also a former Roma player (2003-07).
  • There are two Brazilians in the Inter squad – Luis Henrique, who played for Fluminense’s Rio de Janeiro rivals Botafogo, and Carlos Augusto (ex-Corinthians).
  • Captain Thiago Silva is the only member of the Fluminense squad to have played his club football in Italy, representing Inter’s city rivals AC Milan from 2009-12. He won Serie A with Milan in 2010/11, helping the Rossoneri keep clean sheets in both league wins vs Inter (1-0, 3-0). He was also on the winning side against Inter – with their current head coach Cristian Chivu in the opposition starting XI – in the 2011 Italian Super Cup (2-1).
  • Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer played for Switzerland against a Brazil side featuring Thiago Silva in successive FIFA World Cup group stages, drawing 1-1 in 2018 and losing 1-0 in 2022.
  • Inter captain Lautaro Martínez was in the Argentina side that defeated Thiago Silva’s Brazil 1-0 in the 2021 CONMEBOL Copa América final in Rio’s Maracanã Stadium. Martínez has not scored in his six international appearances against Brazil – he faced Thiago Silva in three of those matches.

Inter Milan vs Fluminense prediction

Having been hammered by Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final, Simone Inzaghi departed Internazionale for Al Hilal and he has been replaced by Cristian Chivu. They were unconvincing in collecting four points against the Urawa Red Diamonds and Monterrey before an impressive defeat of River Plate the other day.

Fluminense are one of four Brazilian clubs that have made it through to the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup, but they are probably the weakest of those four teams. However, the Brazilians have put in some impressive performances in the group stages with a goalless draw against Borussia Dortmund and a 4-2 victory over Ulsan Hyundai.

Inter have been unconvincing and Fluminense have been strong. However, their true level was perhaps shown in their most recent outings with Inter strong against River and Fluminense struggling against the Mamelodi Sundowns, so siding with Inter looks the way to go for this one.

Inter Milan vs Fluminense tip: Inter Milan to win

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