Sabasports Match Preview
FIFA Intercontinental Cup: Paris Saint-Germain vs Flamengo
Kickoff Time: 2025-12-18 01:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/CATHERINE STEENKESTE
This is the final of the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, held at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar. Due to the Qatar Sports Investments company’s acquisition of a majority stake in Paris Saint-Germain, the team enjoys a home-field advantage in Qatar, drawing enthusiastic support from fans. This season, Paris Saint-Germain has struggled with inconsistency due to competing on multiple fronts and injuries, achieving only 6 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in their last 10 matches. Notably, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé missed recent matches due to illness, and right-back Achraf Hakimi is expected to return only by the end of the year. In the last league match, the team proactively rotated players, using a front three of Kang-in Lee, Gonçalo Ramos, and Ibrahim Mbaye. They did not disappoint the coach, with Gonçalo Ramos scoring once, Ibrahim Mbaye providing two assists, and Kang-in Lee also contributing with one assist. The substitute players are in peak condition. For this match, it is expected that key wingers Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will return to the starting lineup, greatly increasing the team’s threat on the flanks.
Flamengo has experienced a perfect run, winning the Copa Libertadores and the Brasileirão title, but has also been affected by injuries. The team’s second-highest scorer, Pedro, is out with an arm fracture, impacting their offensive capabilities and hindering them from fielding their strongest lineup. In the previous intercontinental club cup qualifier, Flamengo defeated the African champions, Pyramids, 2-0, scoring both goals from set pieces. Surprisingly, both goals were scored by center-backs: former Juventus defender Danilo and Brazilian center-back Léo Pereira. This showcases Flamengo’s ability to exploit wing play and breakdown defenses through frequent passing and off-the-ball movement, combined with set-piece tactics. From the statistics of the last match, Flamengo had 11 shots but also allowed 10 against them. Even facing a weaker team like Pyramids, Flamengo could not dominate fully; had the opponent been more accurate with their shots, they could have conceded. In league play, Flamengo recorded only 3 clean sheets in their last 10 matches, all of which were at home
There is a significant gap in strength between the two teams. For example, in the last match, the total market value of Flamengo’s 11 starters was €71 million, which is less than the €90 million value of Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia alone. Additionally, Paris Saint-Germain is in the middle of their season, while Flamengo has just completed a full season, resulting in a considerable disparity in player fitness levels. Given these factors, it is believed that Paris Saint-Germain can win easily.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Last 5 Games: WDWLW
25-12-14 Metz 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain
25-12-11 Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain
25-12-07 Paris Saint-Germain 5-0 Rennes
25-11-30 Monaco 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain
25-11-27 Paris Saint-Germain 5-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Flamengo’s Last 5 Games: WWDWW
25-12-14 Flamengo 2-0 Pyramids
25-12-11 Cruz Azul 1-2 Flamengo
25-12-07 Mirassol 3-3 Flamengo
25-12-04 Flamengo 1-0 Ceará
25-11-30 Palmeiras 0-1 Flamengo
Head-to-Head Record:
None
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain wins