FIFA Club World Cup: Group H Tips
Group H at the FIFA Club World Cup would appear to revolve around Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid, who are the most successful team in the history of the competition having won it five times in its previous guise.
This is a new era for Los Blancos, who have seen former Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso appointed to replace Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, and he will be desperate to start on a positive note at the club he once played for.
They would appear to hold the aces against Red Bull Salzburg, Pachuca and Al Hilal, three teams that they have recent form against.
Real defeated Saudi side Al Hilal 5-3 in the 2022 Club World Cup final, overcame Mexican club Pachuca 3-0 in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup last December and thumped Austrian outfit Salzburg 5-1 in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League the following month.
However, second place is up for grabs and the other three teams will all believe that they have the right credentials to seal a spot in the knockout stages.
Tip 1 - Al Hilal top two finish in Group H @ 5/4
Al Hilal may be the side best placed to follow home Real Madrid in Group H, especially given the recent managerial appointment of born-winner Simone Inzaghi, who has guided Inter to two Champions League finals in the last three seasons.
Given the quality that Al Hilal possess, with former Premier League stars Kalidou Koulibaly, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and Aleksandar Mitrovic, Inzaghi’s guidance could be the key ingredient to take them to the next level.
They appear to have more talent at their disposal than Austrian outfit Salzburg, who have a young squad and were completely outclassed in this season's Champions League, losing seven of their eight matches.
Pachuca, meanwhile, have to find plenty of improvement to get involved and it would be a concern that they are reliant on 35-year-old veteran Salomon Rondon to provide their attacking threat.
Al Hilal may struggle to match Real Madrid in their Group H opener but wins over Salzburg and Pachuca should be within reach and see them progress.
Tip 2 - Real Madrid to win & both teams to score vs Al Hilal @ 31/20
Even accounting for potential teething problems in Alonso’s first competitive fixture in charge, the firepower they possess in Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior should see them come out on top.
However, Real have conceded in 14 of their last 19 matches and, while the recent arrivals of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen should steady the ship defensively, they are not sure to keep an attack-minded Al Hilal at bay.
Former Fulham forward Mitrovic, having scored 19 goals in 23 league games this season, is as prolific as ever and he has plenty of support from the likes of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom.
Tip 3 - Oscar Gloukh to score or assist vs Pachuca @ 9/5
This could be a cagey contest given the importance for both teams to get off to a winning start and Salzburg’s impressive youngster Oscar Gloukh could enhance his growing reputation with another key involvement from the left side of midfield.
The Israeli international is only 21 years of age but he has shown himself to be a vital component for the Austrian side, having scored 10 goals and registered five assists in 26 league appearances this season.
Gloukh also had 19 goal contributions in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and there is every chance that he will be keen to impress on the big stage.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation