As the FIFA Club World Championship continues, four more sides enter the tournament, including European giants Manchester City, Real Madrid and Juventus. We preview the upcoming clashes taking place Wednesday night and the early hours of Thursday morning, South African time.
Manchester City (England) vs Wydad AC (Morocco)
Group E
18 June, 18:00 SAST
Manchester City qualified as the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League winners, earning their spot with a treble-winning season. This will be their first match of the tournament, and they enter as one of the outright favourites.
Wydad AC earned their place as the CAF Champions League runners-up, with Al Ahly having already qualified through a separate channel. Wydad were granted a slot due to their 2022 CAF Champions League title. They come in as massive underdogs against the former Premier League champions who are coming off what was by their standards a disappointing season.
Betting – click here to bet
Manchester City – 1.05
Draw – 15.00
Wydad AC – 56.00
This should be as one sided as the betting suggests and I am going for a fast Man City start.
BET: 1st goal to be scored in minutes 1-15 at 2.25
Real Madrid (Spain) vs Al Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia)
Group H
18 June, 21:00 SAST
Real Madrid qualified as UEFA Champions League winners from the 2021–22 season, their 15th European crown. The Spanish giants who were 2nd to Barcelona in La Ligaare making their first appearance in this tournament and are heavily favoured to progress deep.
Al Hilal earned their berth by winning the 2021 AFC Champions League. The runners up in the Saudi Pro League will need a flawless performance to challenge the European heavyweights.
Betting – click here to bet
Real Madrid – 1.30
Draw – 6.50
Al Hilal – 9.50
Al Hilal will struggle to get through this Real Madrid defence and I am backing the Spanish team to win without conceding.
BET: Result and Both Teams to Score, Real Madrid and NO at 2.35
CF Pachuca (Mexico) vs FC Salzburg (Austria)
Group G
19 June, 00:00 SAST
CF Pachuca qualified by winning the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, a title that gave them early entry into this revamped Club World Championship. They are experienced in intercontinental competition and bring strong regional pedigree to the party.
FC Salzburg qualified as one of the top-ranked teams from UEFA not already included as Champions League winners. Their consistent domestic dominance in Austria and solid European performances earned them a valuable spot in the tournament.
This matchup looks to be one of the most balanced of the round.
Betting – click here to bet
CF Pachuca – 2.80
Draw – 3.50
FC Salzburg – 2.55
This should be a tight game and the draw looks a lively runner.
BET: The draw at 2.35
Al Ain FC (UAE) vs Juventus (Italy)
Group H
19 June, 03:00 SAST
Al Ain enter as AFC Champions League winners from 2023–24, after a stunning run that saw them beat several top Asian clubs. They look one of the strongest teams from the Asian confederation.
Juventus qualified based on UEFA coefficient rankings and are coming off a solid domestic season in which they finished 4th in Serie A. Though they haven’t won the Champions League in recent years, they remain a European giant.
The Italians are clear favourites, but Al Ain will be playing with the confidence of being the most successful side in history in the UAE Pro League albeit they will be disappointed by this seasons 5th place finish.
Betting – click here to bet
Al Ain FC – 13.00
Draw – 7.00
Juventus – 1.22
I think this could be tighter than the betting suggests and I am backing Juventus to win by exactly 1 goal.
BET: Handicap, Juventus -1 goal the draw at 4.20
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