With Matchday One of the new-look FIFA Club World Cup coming to a head, we’ve got a quick turnaround as Matchday Two kicks off just 24 hours after the final whistle of the opening round. That means it’s time to stay ahead of the game and start looking for potential value in the next set of fixtures.
Just like last time, let’s take a quick look at some of the games and cook up some of our best bets for Matchday Two of the competition.
Game one of the round will see Brazilian side Palmeiras take on the top team from the Egyptian Premier League, with both clubs coming off disappointing 0–0 draws in Matchday One. Palmeiras are likely the favorites in the group from a talent perspective and will be looking to assert their dominance as they push for a spot in the knockout rounds.
If they are going to do that, the pressure will fall on their teenage sensation Estêvão, who was named Man of the Match in their opening game. While there were no goals in that match, Estêvão looked like the most likely to break through, constantly threatening Porto from both flanks.
Based on that performance, it feels like he is due for a goal or assist against Al Ahly, which is exactly what I’m backing in this one.
As mentioned previously, these Group A teams are also coming off 0-0 draws in their respective first games of the competition. Both managers and their squads will have a point to prove in this showdown in Atalanta. Inter Miami, headlined by legends like Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and of course Lionel Messi, will look to contain the youthful brilliance of Porto, who would likely be happy with their result against group favorites Palmeiras last time out.
In their first outing of the competition, young stars Rodrigo Mora and Samu Aghehowa both looked like threats all evening. Porto’s management and fans will hope those two can use that performance as a springboard, especially since this game will be essential for playoff seeding.
With all that being said, even though Inter Miami have the bigger names, I believe Porto will pose plenty of problems for the old guard. The extreme athleticism gap in the matchup could be the deciding factor, and I see the Portuguese side coming out on top.
This matchup has caused friction between the two fanbases on social media ever since the groups were announced. Chelsea fans expect to come away with a comfortable victory, while Flamengo supporters have been firing warning shots in the direction of the Blues for months. Whether those attitudes translate to the field remains to be seen, but if they do, it could make for an exciting clash.
That being said, while Flamengo have talent across the pitch, Chelsea’s form and next-level quality will likely pose problems for the Brazilian side’s defense. Their recent matchup with LAFC allowed Chelsea players to shake off any rust that may have built up following the Conference League final. As a result, I expect their attack to be more free-flowing, potentially leading to the London side finding the back of the net multiple times in Philadelphia.
As many of us Kiwis know, Bayern are coming off a dominant 10-0 win against our own Auckland City in the first round of the competition, making it clear they aren’t taking this tournament lightly. Boca Juniors are one of the more exciting teams in the tournament, thanks to the South American flair they bring to the pitch. This sentiment was echoed by the traveling fans, who turned Miami into a second Argentinian city with their presence.
This match will certainly pose more of a challenge for Bayern, as Boca will offer far more resistance than the semi-pro Auckland City side. That said, Bayern seem to have arrived at this tournament with something to prove. A convincing win for them wouldn’t be a surprise, and if that happens, scoring in both halves is definitely on the cards.
Another Argentine club, River Plate, will play “host” in one of the most intriguing matchups, as they face Mexican side CF Monterrey, who are coming off a solid 1-1 draw with Inter Milan in the opening round. This should be a relatively close game, with both teams known for their physical and gritty style of football.
While River Plate scored three goals against Urawa Red Diamonds in their first match, they did so with just 0.91 expected goals (xG), suggesting some negative regression in their finishing could be on the horizon. CF Monterrey enter as underdogs for a second straight game, and while they managed one goal in their opener, it aligned closely with their xG of around 1.
All signs point to a tightly contested, low-scoring affair when these two sides meet on Sunday.