FIFA Club World Cup: Group A Tips
The Club World Cup begins on Saturday night, kicking off with MLS Supporters’ Shield champions Inter Miami in their home stadium.
Lionel Messi’s side are in Group A, where they will face Egyptian side Al Ahly, Portuguese giants FC Porto, and Brazilian outfit Palmeiras.
Below we have 7/4, 6/4, and 39/20 tips around the tournament opener and the prospects of the sides in Group A. Porto and Palmeiras are expected to battle for top spot, with defensive issues expected to hold back Inter Miami.
Tip 1 – Palmeiras to win Group A @ 7/4
European sides are expected to top groups across the board, but FC Porto appear to be the most vulnerable favourites.
The Portuguese side finished third domestically this term, far off the pace of the Primeira Liga’s top two. They also struggled in the Europa League, exiting early in the knockout rounds after winning only three of their eight league phase games.
Inter Miami are struggling to keep pace with the sides at the top of MLS, so they’re unlikely to make it out of the group stage.
Palmieras are fourth in Brazil’s Serie A, but they laid down a marker by winning seven of their first nine matches. They’re also on course for more continental success, having won all six group games in the Copa Libertadores.
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira spent five years at Sporting, while he both played for and managed Braga, so the Portuguese boss should be familiar with this Porto side, while he’s already proven his credentials by winning the Copa Libertadores twice during his five-year stint with the club.
Led by Chelsea-bound winger Willian Estevao and sporting South America’s most expensive signing in Vitor Roque, Palmeiras are good value to top the standings.
Tip 2 – Over 3.5 goals in Al Ahly vs Inter Miami @ 39/20
If Inter Miami carry their recent MLS form into this competition, then we should be in for an entertaining start to the new Club World Cup. Inter Miami’s league matches this term have averaged 3.94 goals per game, while seven of their last eight have featured five or more goals.
Al Ahly beat Pharco FC 6-0 before departing for the US and they head into the tournament on the back of a six-match winning run. They should be confident of causing problems for the US side, which should result in a high-scoring game.
Both teams to score is priced up at 8/13, but with Inter Miami looking clinical at one end and vulnerable at the other, over 3.5 goals holds the most appeal at 39/20.
Tip 3 – Palmeiras to beat FC Porto @ 7/4
Porto finished 11 points shy of Sporting this term, with the Dragons losing ground on their rivals thanks to setbacks in big games. Porto lost 4-1 home and away to Benfica, while they could only draw at home to Sporting after a 2-0 defeat in Lisbon early in the campaign. Porto also lost away at Braga, while they finished the season with six away defeats.
After Europa League defeats to Bodo/Glimt, Lazio, Olympiakos, and Roma, Porto look vulnerable against Palmeiras in their opener. The Brazilian side have won 15 of their 19 games across Serie A, Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Cup. Back them at 7/4 to kick off the tournament with a victory.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation