🔊 Who are the frontrunners for the second spot in Group E? The matches in this group kick off on June 17 with a clash between Argentina's River Plate and Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds from Saitama. The game will take place in Seattle at Lumen Field. Italian side Inter are considered the clear favorites to top the group, making the battle for second place the main intrigue. In this context, we shouldn't overlook Mexico's Monterrey, who also have a solid chance of advancing. As for the upcoming match between River Plate and Urawa, most bookmakers see the Argentine team as the favorite. What prediction do we have in store for you? Find out below.

Head-to-Head

📊 The teams have never faced each other before. This match will be the first-ever encounter between the sides.

River Plate Team Overview

⚪ One of Argentina's most popular clubs enters the tournament with impressive form: they remain unbeaten in 17 matches, excluding their exit in the semifinals of the Argentine Apertura, where they fell to Platense in a penalty shootout.

🔴 The "Millionaires" are in excellent form as the season is in full swing. They topped Group B of the Copa Libertadores and advanced to the Round of 16, where they'll face Paraguay's Libertad after the Club World Cup. Following this international tournament, the Argentine side will also kick off their campaign in the Clausura.

🏆 The squad boasts world-class full-backs who have been crowned world champions with Argentina's national team—left-back Marcos Acuña and right-back Gonzalo Montiel. Both not only represented the national team but also played together for Spain's Sevilla. Among players with European experience, attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini, who spent a significant period at England's West Ham, stands out.

🔝 The team's primary goal-scorers are Colombian forward Miguel Ángel Borja, who netted 5 goals in the Apertura, and Argentine Sebastián Driussi, who scored 3 goals in the Copa Libertadores. A key young asset for the "Millionaires" is attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono. In 19 matches this season, he has tallied 11 points in the goal+assist system (7 goals and 4 assists) and recently made his debut for Argentina in a World Cup qualifier against Chile.

Urawa Red Diamonds Team Overview

🔴 The five-time champions of Japan previously competed in the old format of the Club World Cup back in 2007. They were the first Japanese club to participate in the tournament and secured a third-place finish in their debut. Urawa Reds are also three-time winners of the AFC Champions League, with their most recent triumph coming in 2023.

⚪ However, the club last claimed the J1 League title in 2006. Over the past 18 years, they have struggled to climb higher than second place. Currently, under the guidance of Polish coach Maciej Skorza, they sit in fourth place after 21 matches in the Japanese championship, trailing the leaders by seven points. Their record stands at 9 wins, 7 draws, and 5 losses (34 points). The club will continue their pursuit of a top-three finish following their appearance at the Club World Cup.

🔝 Urawa's top scorer this season is midfielder Ryoma Watanabe, who has contributed 7 goal involvements in 17 matches, with 6 goals and 1 assist. Last season, Brazilian forward Thiago led the attack with 12 goals and 3 assists across 36 appearances. However, his form has dipped this year, as he has only scored 3 times in 11 matches.

Latest news

River Plate

📝 Following the conclusion of the Club World Cup, 17-year-old Franco Mastantuono will make his move to Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have secured the promising winger from River Plate for a record-breaking €45 million, marking the most expensive sale in the history of Argentine football.

❌ Due to a knee injury, 19-year-old forward Agustin Ruberto will miss the tournament. The young talent is currently recovering from a cruciate ligament tear.

Urawa Red Diamonds

❌ Due to a knee injury, defensive midfielder Kai Shibato will miss the tournament as he recovers from surgery.

⚽ Goal Prediction

⚽ Goal Prediction

As both teams are deep into their seasons, our prediction is based on the last 10 matches for each club. River Plate have averaged 2.6 goals per game, while Urawa Red Diamonds have scored around 1.5 goals. Given their current form and status as favorites, we anticipate the Argentine side will be more prolific in front of goal. Therefore, we suggest considering a bet on River Plate's individual total to exceed 1.5 goals.

🚩 Corner Prediction

The corner statistics present an interesting picture. Over the last 10 matches, River Plate have averaged 5.1 corners per game. The total corners in their matches stood at 7.7, indicating relatively low activity from their opponents—just 2.6 corners on average. Urawa's numbers are higher: they averaged 5.2 corners per match, with their opponents averaging 5.6, bringing the total average to 10.8 corners per game for the Japanese side. However, it's important to note River's more dominant style of play. The Argentinians typically control possession and territory, which could significantly limit Urawa's opportunities from set-pieces. Considering all this, our prediction for the corner outcome is a win for River Plate.

The multiple-time Argentine champions and four-time Copa Libertadores winners are considered favorites for the upcoming clash. Marcelo Gallardo's squad features current world champions and players with European experience, alongside young talents already being signed by Real Madrid. In contrast, Urawa Red Diamonds appear much more modest. The Japanese side hasn't won their national championship in over 15 years and lacks players with significant European experience, let alone world champions. In our view, the Argentine league is noticeably more dynamic, intense, physically robust, and faster than the Japanese league. Considering these factors, we are backing a River Plate victory. Predicted scoreline: 2-0.