2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup: Cruz Azul vs Flamengo Clash
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
In this so-called “Derby of the Americas,” we'll see Cruz Azul vs Flamengo in a match that counts as a quarterfinal of the 2025 Intercontinental Cup in Doha, Qatar. The match is scheduled for December 10 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Qatar, and the winner will face the Pyramids of Egypt for a place in the final against PSG.
The Rubro-Negro arrives with morale sky-high after winning the Libertadores and with a very solid campaign to win the Brasileirão, while Cruz Azul carries the weight of being the current Concacaf Champions League champion. Given this scenario, the match takes on an air of a clash of continents, mentalities, and very particular moments for the two teams.
Cruz Azul's current form and context
Cruz Azul is enjoying one of its most competitive periods in recent years, with only three defeats in its last 22 games, which helps explain why the team is so highly respected going into its match against Flamengo. In Mexican soccer, La Máquina is no longer in contention for the Apertura Tournament title, after being eliminated by Tigres in the semifinals, in games played just before traveling to the Intercontinental Cup.
As is customary in Mexico, the season is divided into Clausura (first semester) and Apertura (second semester), and Cruz Azul had already had a good Clausura campaign, falling only in the semifinals to América, in an elimination decided by the best campaign criterion after the tie in the overall score, being eliminated in both rounds.
Cruz Azul's road to the Intercontinental Cup
Cruz Azul earned its place in the Intercontinental Cup in the Concacaf Champions League in undisputed fashion. The journey began in February with a 7-0 aggregate victory over Haiti's Real Hope, which gave an idea of the difference in level and depth between the two teams.
In the following rounds, the team defeated Seattle Sounders, with a 0-0 draw in the United States and a resounding 4-1 victory in Mexico, proving that Cruz Azul was capable of controlling the game away from home and accelerating at home. Then came two all-Mexican ties: 2-1 aggregate victories against América and Tigres, tough opponents accustomed to going far in international competitions.
In the final, La Máquina left no room for doubt and crushed Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps, winning 5-0 in a single match, reaching halftime with a 4-0 lead, a result that, on its own, serves as a calling card for any rival, including Flamengo.
Change of command at Cruz Azul and a new style
Interestingly, even with the continental title, Cruz Azul's management decided to change the technical leadership, something that, at first glance, seems contradictory, but is part of the culture of intense demands in Mexican soccer. Uruguayan Vicente Sánchez left the club by mutual agreement, making way for the arrival of Argentine Nicolás Larcamón, an old acquaintance of local soccer and with a brief stint at Cruzeiro in 2024.
Larcamón has returned to prominence in North America and, since July, has only accumulated three defeats in 21 games at the helm of Cruz Azul, consolidating a style of play that combines intensity, defensive organization, and good use of offensive space.
Who are Cruz Azul's key players?
In attack, the most talked-about names are Gabriel Fernández and Ángel Sepúlveda, two forwards who, together, have scored almost half of the team's goals this season. Interestingly, despite the importance of both players, Larcamón does not always use them simultaneously, alternating lineups depending on the context of the match, which creates a certain unpredictability for the opposing defense.
In midfield, Carlos Rodríguez is the technical and tactical reference point, in his fifth season at the club and racking up goals and assists, as well as being an organizer who sets the pace for the team. José Paradela, touted as the main reinforcement after the Concacaf Champions League title, is one of the leaders in dribbling in the Apertura Tournament, which helps break lines and create numerical superiority on the wings, something that can cause problems for the Rojiblancos' fullbacks.
Match information for Cruz Azul vs. Flamengo
- Match: Cruz Azul vs. Flamengo
- Date: Wednesday, December 10
- Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern
- Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Doha, Qatar
- Watch Live: beIN Sports
