The Club World Cup is entering its decisive phase with the start of the Round of 16 this Saturday. On the agenda: prestigious matchups, but also unprecedented duels, such as Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey, promising a clash of styles between Europe and Latin America.
Some European favourites, like PSG, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, have shown signs of fatigue. This uncertain form could reshuffle the cards and lead to surprises as early as these Round of 16 matches.
Brazilian clubs, meanwhile, have made a strong impression in this first edition of the Club World Cup. With 4 teams still in contention (Fluminense, Botafogo, Flamengo, and Palmeiras), they are heavily represented and stand out for their intensity and discipline. One of them is guaranteed to reach the quarter-finals, as Brazilian rivals Palmeiras and Botafogo face off on Saturday in Philadelphia.
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Benfica vs Chelsea – Both Teams to Score @ 1.75
This is one of the most exciting fixtures of the Round of 16. These two European heavyweights have only met once in their history: in the quarter-finals of the 2011/12 Champions League, a two-legged tie won by Chelsea. It’s therefore difficult to pick a favourite, especially since both the English and Portuguese teams have been particularly prolific since the start of the Club World Cup, promising an open and spectacular match. With 9 goals scored in the group stage, Benfica has showcased the depth of its offensive arsenal, notably led by the essential Angel Di María. Chelsea, for their part, have scored three fewer goals but remain just as dangerous, spearheaded by Pedro Neto.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami – Both Teams to Score @ 1.85
This is the kind of story football fans love. The reunion between Lionel Messi and PSG will take place on Sunday in the Round of 16 of the competition. The Argentine star’s time at the Parisian club left a bitter taste, particularly after the forward’s post-departure statements about his Parisian chapter, where he confessed his discomfort and disappointment. While Paris is logically the favourite and expected to win, Suárez and Messi are likely to redouble their efforts to score at least one goal, adding even more flavour to this encounter.
Palmeiras vs Botafogo – Draw @ 3.10
This is an all-Brazilian duel that promises to be tight between two teams who know each other inside out. In this type of confrontation, it’s often difficult to separate the opponents. Palmeiras ended two of their last three matches in a draw, a revealing sign of a solid team sometimes lacking offensive efficiency. Despite the loss to Atlético Madrid, Botafogo’s players impressed, particularly against PSG. Luis Enrique, the Parisian coach, didn’t hesitate to declare that Botafogo was the best team he had faced this season.
Flamengo vs Bayern Munich – Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.65
Coached by former Chelsea defender Filipe Luís, Flamengo has delivered a more than satisfactory performance so far. The Red and Blacks, who have shown great intensity on the ball, scored 6 goals in the group stage, including a strong 3-1 victory over Chelsea. Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich began the competition with a crushing 10-0 win against Auckland City. The Bavarians then overcame Boca Juniors (2-1), before suffering a surprising and frustrating 1-0 defeat against Benfica. While the Germans’ offensive potential is infinite, they have also shown some defensive lapses that promise an open game.
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