FIFA Club World Cup: Group C Tips
Group C at the FIFA Club World Cup features German champions Bayern Munich, Portuguese giants Benfica, Boca Juniors of Argentina and the sole Oceania representatives in the competition, Auckland City.
Bayern are two-time previous winners of the tournament, having triumphed in 2013 and 2020, and the Bundesliga side are fancied to do well in the expanded edition this summer.
Bayern are as short as 1/14 to qualify from the group for the last 16 and are available at 6/1 to win the whole tournament.
Benfica are also expected to finish in the top two in Group C as they are 11/25 to progress to the knockout stage, Boca Juniors are 6/5 to end up first or second in the section, while Auckland City are the outsiders, rated as a 30/1 chance to make the last 16.
Tip 1 – Boca Juniors to finish in the top 2 in Group C @ 6/5
It would be a surprise if Bayern do not end up winning Group C but, beneath them, both Benfica and Boca Juniors will fancy their chances of joining the Bavarian giants in the knockout stage.
Boca had a disappointing start to the year as they failed to reach the group stage of the Copa Libertadores before getting knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the Torneo Apertura back home last month.
However, they can make an impact in the USA by securing a last-16 place via a top-two group finish.
Boca have the likes of Sergio Romero, Marcus Rojo, Ander Herrera and Edinson Cavani to rely on, while 19-year-old midfielder Milton Delgado is one of their exciting youngsters and is tipped to make a big-money switch to Europe over the next few years.
Tip 2 – Harry Kane to score at least 2 goals v Auckland City @ 13/10
Bayern are expected to comfortably see off Auckland City in Sunday’s Group C opener and the clash should provide England captain Harry Kane with a great opportunity to get up and running nicely in the race for the Golden Boot in the tournament.
Kane was the top-scorer in the Bundesliga with 26 goals and he approaches the Club World Cup in great shape after notching in both of England’s games this month against Andorra and Senegal.
Up against an Auckland defence that will not be used to his quality, Kane looks more than capable of registering at least two goals.
Tip 3 – Miguel Merentiel to score or assist for Boca Juniors vs Benfica @ 41/20
Miguel Merentiel is one of Boca Juniors' dangermen and he can help them get off to a good start in the tournament when they face Benfica on Monday.
The 29-year-old has got seven goals and three assists for Boca so far this season and is another player who is coming into the tournament in red-hot form as he has two goals and two assists in his last three appearances.
Those recent stats make him appealing at odds of 41/20 to continue in the same vein and score or assist against Benfica in Miami.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation