The Brazilian side beat Egyptian giants Al Ahly on Monday to book their place in Friday’s showpiece, just 24 hours before we joined them with victory over Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan.
The continental champions of Europe and South American will now compete for the trophy at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah at 18:00 (UK) on 22 December.
That match will be live on TNT Sports and FIFA+ for those following from the UK. For fans outside of the UK, click here to find out how you can watch.
The official Man City app will also have free live radio commentary as part of our usual Matchday Live show that includes studio guests previewing and analysing the action.
Ahead of the game we take a look at the team that we’ll face…
Qualification
Winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores. Just like City, the Brazilian side won their elite continental competition for the first time in 2023. They beat Argentine giants Boca Juniors in the final at the Maracana earlier this month.
They qualified for the final with knockout wins over Argentinian side Argentinos Juniors, Paraguayan club Olimpia and fellow Brazilian club Internacional. That came following a top place finish in the group stage ahead of River Plate.
Semi-final lineup
Fluminense XI: Fabio, Xavier, Felipe Melo, Nino, Marcelo, Andre, Martinelli, Ganso, Keno, Jhon Arias, Cano
Subs: Rangel, Eudes, Marlon, Alexsander, Kennedy, Daniel, Gomes, dos Santos, Gonzalez, Mendanha, David, Lima
Style of play
Fluminense set up in both the Copa Libertadores final and Monday’s FIFA Club World Cup semi-final in a 4-2-3-1. Or at least that’s how it starts.
Marcelo, the former Real Madrid left-back and serial winner, is traditionally a left-back and begins matches there for Fluminense but has the license to roam.
On Monday, he often ended up alongside the midfield two.
That midfield two is Andre and Matheus Martinelli, who are the lungs of the team. Both are 22 and have the energy to get up and down the pitch all game.
The pair match that enthusiasm with composure on the ball and have both drawn attention from Europe.
The two central defenders – 40-year-old Felipe Melo and 26-year-old Nino - are a strong, physical pair who tend to sit deep to protect their goal.
Melo played in Europe for the likes of Juventus, Galatasaray and Inter while Nino has played all his career in Brazil and been part of the international setup recently.
Fabio, the 43-year-old goalkeeper behind them, was kept busy on Monday but was a match for everything Al Ahly could throw at him, making six saves in total.
Up top, German Cano is a poacher of a striker who will look to react quickest to any loose ball in the box, while John Kennedy has proved a lethal option off the bench in both the Copa Libertadores final and Monday’s game.
They are supplied by creative No.10 Ganso and wingers Keno and Jhon Arias, who try to remain high and wide.
Recent form
Fluminense finished seventh in the Brazilian Serie A for 2023. They collected 56 points from 38 games, winning 16, drawing eight and losing 14. They ended the league campaign with defeats to champions Palmeiras and runners-up Gremio.
They were knocked out of the cup in the Round of 16 by eventual beaten finalists Flamengo.
Manager
Fernando Diniz has been a manager since 2009 but is currently enjoying a major boom in his reputation due to his success with Fluminense. Alongside his responsibilities with Fluminense, he is interim head coach of the Brazil national team.
While he has been nicknamed the ‘Brazilian Guardiola, Diniz does not agree with that comparison.
“The way Pep likes having possession is the opposite of mine. His style is positional, mine is anti-positional,” he said.
About Fluminense
Fluminense are widely regarded as one of the biggest clubs in Brazil and play their home games at the iconic 78,000-capacity Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. They are the oldest club in Rio, having been formed in 1902.
Since then, they have won four Brazilian national championships and 33 Campeonato Cariocas, which is just for teams in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Their home kit colours are instantly recognisable throughout the world – playing in a deep garnet red, green and white.
The club holds rivalries with fellow Rio residents Botafogo, Vasco da Gama and Flamengo although their matches with Flamengo are mostly considered the greatest derbies in Brazilian football.
