Los Angeles FC vs Flamengo predictions: Battle-hardened Brazilians can maintain perfect start
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- Flamengo are unbeaten in 10 and have recorded six straight wins
- Los Angeles FC have won only one of their last six matches
- Recommended bet: Flamengo to win to nil
There is little riding on this closing clash in Group D of the Club World Cup, with wins over Esperance Tunis and Chelsea helping Flamengo seal their place in the round of 16.
In what has been a strong showing from the South American contingent, Flamengo caused an upset with their 3-1 win over Chelsea on matchday two to show that they can be a force to be reckoned with in this competition.
That came on the back of a 2-0 win over Tunisian outfit ES Tunis and means that manager Filipe Luis may opt to protect some of his star names for this encounter with MLS side Los Angeles FC, who are already eliminated after losing their opening two assignments to nil.
LAFC suffered a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea and then disappointed again in a 1-0 reverse against ES Tunis, who grabbed the only goal of the game through Youcef Belaili on 70 minutes.
Team news
Los Angeles FC remain without long-term absentees Lorenzo Dellavalle and Celtic loanee Odin Holm, while Turkey international Cengiz Under has been sidelined since the start of June.
Meanwhile, El Salvador forward Nathan Ordaz missed the latest 1-0 defeat to Esperance Tunis due to concussion and will face a late fitness test.
For Flamengo, Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas de la Cruz is still missing through injury.
Filipe Luis otherwise has a fully fit squad to choose from but changes may be expected, though, with top spot already secured.
The stats
Brazilian Serie A leaders Flamengo are unbeaten in 10 and have recorded six straight wins.
Flamengo have kept seven clean sheets in their last nine matches, conceding only against Botafogo and Chelsea in that period.
Only three of Flamengo's last 10 matches have gone over 2.5 goals.
Los Angeles FC have won only one of their last six matches, losing both Club World Cup games against Chelsea and ES Tunis to nil.
However, both teams have scored in nine of their last 13 matches and LAFC missed an injury-time penalty in their 1-0 loss to ES Tunis.
LAFC forward Denis Bouanga has scored in eight of his last 12 appearances.
Prediction
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Even accounting for potential changes due to having already qualified for the last 16, Flamengo are still expected to be too hot for a sorry LAFC, who are out following two defeats to nil.
Flamengo, having gone 10 matches unbeaten and recorded six straight victories, will not want to lose unnecessarily and their opponents are going to find it hard to breach a disciplined defence.
The Brazilians are top of their domestic division, having conceded just four times in 11 league outings, which means they have kept seven clean sheets in nine matches.
LAFC have struggled with the hike in competition at the Club World Cup, failing to score against Chelsea and ES Tunis, and they managed only six shots on target in those fixtures combined.
If Flamengo can keep lively winger Bouanga quiet, then they are likely to make it three wins from three in Group D and record another shut out.
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