With the group stage of the Club World Cup over, it’s time to take a look at the last 16, which kicks off this Saturday with Palmeiras-Botafogo.
The last 16 of the Club World Cup have been decided. After a group stage that has produced a few surprises – the elimination of Atletico Madrid, the qualification of Inter Miami – only 16 teams are still alive to win the first edition of the FIFA Club World Cup in its new 32-team format.
Palmeiras vs Botafogo
The only round of 16 between two teams from the same country is in Brazil. Palmeiras, who came out on top in the most open group of the entire Club World Cup, will face a Botafogo side that pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all after beating European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
All eyes will be on the duel between Estevao and Igor Jesus. Both face their last tournament with their current clubs before leaving for Chelsea and Nottingham Forest respectively.
Accustomed to facing each other in the Brazilian League, they have met 41 times in the 21st century, with the “Verdao” winning 18 times to the “Fogao’s” 12, as well as 11 draws. However, in the last five meetings, Palmeiras have failed to win.
Benfica vs Chelsea
Benfica and Chelsea might have been expected to meet in the last 16… at the other end of the group. But the Portuguese stunned Bayern Munich and the Blues crashed out of their group against Flamengo. The winner will face the winner of Palmeiras-Botafogo.
This could be Angel Di Maria’s last game in a Benfica shirt. Top scorer of this Club World Cup along with other players, he will be incisive from the wing to try to reach the quarter-finals. In front of them, a great team with Cole Palmer as the main man and Liam Delap as the big signing for this competition. A special match for Enzo Fernandez against his former team.
Benfica and Chelsea have met three times in official competitions throughout history and all of them with the same result, victory for the London team. The last one, the 2013 Europa League final with Ivanovic’s stoppage-time winner.
Inter Milan vs Fluminense
A win in the last matchday allowed Inter, in Chivu’s debut in the dugout, to finish first and avoid a more complicated part of the table. They will face Fluminense, who after a great first matchday have left many doubts in the last one against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The focus for Inter will be on Lautaro Martinez, who has already scored two goals in three games. He will be up against one of the great defenders of the last decade, Thiago Silva, who left the European continent to play in his native country.
This will be the first time that Inter Milan and Fluminense have met. But what’s more, neither the ‘Nerazurri’ have ever faced a Brazilian club, nor ‘Flu’ have ever faced an Italian team.
Manchester City vs Al-Hilal
The only team to reach nine points in this group stage was Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s team, with their new additions, put a poor season behind them and are in the running to win the Club World Cup. To start with, they have Al-Hilal, who qualified at the last minute and with difficulty.
The English side have many names to look out for, but we have chosen Erling Haaland, who has already scored two goals in the Club World Cup and is a great threat to all defences. For Al-Hilal, the fitness of Salem Al-Dawsari and the possible return of Mitrovic remain to be seen.
While Manchester City and Al-Hilal have never met, the Saudi side have met once against an English side. They lost to Chelsea in the semi-final of the 2022 Club World Cup.
PSG vs Inter Miami
The best team in Europe last season, PSG, who were stunned by Botafogo in the group stage, will be looking to continue as favourites against an Inter Miami side who have surprised and sneaked into the last 16, knocking Porto out of the group stage. Can they cope with a top-level test?
There will be plenty of excitement in the last 16 between the Parisians and the Florida franchise. Especially to see Messi face his former team when he left Barcelona, but especially for the reunion with Luis Enrique. Busquets, Jordi Alba and Suarez will also meet their former coach, but will Dembele return after missing the group stage?
PSG and Inter Miami have not met on any occasion in history. However, the French side have played an MLS team in this Club World Cup, Seattle Sounders, with the French side winning.
Flamengo vs Bayern Munich
One of the great pairings of these round of 16, one of the most important clubs in South American football against one of the most important clubs in European football. Bayern’s defeat has put them on the wrong side of the draw to face Flamengo.
They have yet to score in this Club World Cup, but Flamengo’s attack has been built around the boots of Pedro, not to mention the work of De Arrascaeta in midfield. Against them will be one of the world’s top scorers, Kane, who is hungry for more silverware.
This will be the first time Flamengo and Bayern Munich have met in their history. While the “Mengao” have never played against a German team in an official match, the Bavarians have played against a Brazilian team, in the two-legged final of the Intercontinental Cup in 1976, which the Germans won.
Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey
Borussia Dortmund lived up to their billing as favourites last time out… and thanks to Mamelodi Sundowns. Kovac’s side will face a Monterrey side who are unbeaten and only behind Inter Milan.
One of the big names in the German side is Jobe Bellingham, who has landed on his feet at Dortmund. A goal and an assist in his first games for the German side. For the Rayados, the goals have gone to Berterame, although the experience and leadership of Ramos is something to be reckoned with.
For the first time in history, Borussia Dortmund and Monterrey will meet. Neither the German side nor the Mexican side have ever faced a team from their opponents’ country in the last 16.
Real Madrid vs Juventus
It took a while to get off to a good start, but Xabi Alonso’s project at Real Madrid finishes this group stage with two consecutive victories and with the best performance against Salzburg. It won’t be easy for them in the last 16, as Juventus await them after a painful defeat against Manchester City.
Vinicius seems to have woken up with Xabi Alonso. Goal and assist against Salzburg to show that he is the one who should lead Los Blancos… while Mbappe is expected after the gastroenteritis that led him to be hospitalised. At Juventus, it is Kenan Yildiz who has shown the best image in the Italian team.
Real Madrid-Juventus is a classic in European football. They have met 21 times in official competition, with a balance of ten victories for the Spanish team, nine for the Italian team and only two draws. However, they have not met since 2018.