🔊 Can Al-Ain hold off Juventus in the Club World Cup? Bookmakers have their doubts. However, the Turin side are still searching for form and fresh ideas. In such a scenario, stumbling against a team like Al-Ain is not out of the question, especially in mid-June when players are typically on break. Therefore, we'll explore various possibilities to make an insightful prediction. It's worth noting that the first-round match will take place in Washington at Audi Field.

Head-to-Head

📊 These opponents have not faced each other before.

Al Ain Team Overview

🟣 Al Ain pulled off a sensational victory in last season's AFC Champions League, earning their spot in the current tournament. They overcame star-studded sides like Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr under the guidance of Hernán Crespo, who has since been dismissed. This season, Vladimir Ivić, formerly of Krasnodar, took the helm. However, he couldn't turn things around as the team finished only fifth in the UAE Pro League. Their AFC Champions League campaign was even more disappointing, as they ended up at the bottom of their group with just two points from eight matches. This doesn't bode well ahead of a more prestigious tournament.

🔝 A key figure in Al Ain's attack is Kodjo Laba. At 33, he's showcasing impressive scoring prowess, netting 20 goals in 21 league matches. Yet, over his three seasons with Al Ain, the Togolese forward has averaged more than a goal per game, making this season not his most prolific. Moreover, he hasn't found the net in the AFC Champions League and has scored just once for the Togo national team.

Juventus Turin Team Overview

⚫ Juventus finished fourth in Serie A, securing a spot in the Champions League. They edged out Roma by just one point. Despite this achievement, the club faces numerous questions. Igor Tudor, who took charge midway through the season, has done an impressive job, suffering only one defeat in nine matches. However, the management remains uncertain about continuing with him. Meanwhile, their Serie A rivals have changed coaches, leaving "the Old Lady" seemingly with no choice but to extend Tudor's contract.

🔝 All eyes from the local fans will be on Weston McKennie, who has become a pivotal player under Igor Tudor. The midfielder contributes significantly beyond just scoring and assisting. Nevertheless, the American has two goals and four assists in Serie A, along with three goals to his name in the Champions League.

Latest news

Al Ain

🎙 The top scorer of the 2024 Olympics for Morocco and one of Al-Ain's key players, Soufiane Rahimi, believes that nothing is impossible: “Like any team participating in this major tournament, we have big ambitions. We hope to meet the expectations of our fans, as well as every football enthusiast. In football, nothing is impossible. We will play with full commitment and aim to achieve our goal – proudly representing Al-Ain.”

📝 Al-Ain has resolved their goalkeeper situation for the Club World Cup. Former Portugal international Rui Patricio, whose contract with Atalanta recently ended, has been signed exclusively for the duration of the tournament.

✅ Al-Ain are preparing for the match with a full squad.

Juventus Turin

🎙 Juventus' head coach shared his thoughts on the team's participation in the Club World Cup: "There is excitement because it's our first time in this tournament. Juventus always aims to win. We strive for victory while maintaining humility. We know the best teams compete in the Club World Cup, but we are here not just to participate. Now, we must quickly adapt to the weather conditions in the USA and the time zone, as there are only a few days left until the game."

📌 Francisco Conceição and Randal Kolo Muani will play for Juventus in the Club World Cup. The club announced an agreement with Porto and PSG to extend their loan deals.

📝 Juventus have been hesitant in the summer transfer window, having only secured the permanent signing of Pierre Kalulu, who spent last season on loan with the Bianconeri.

❌ In the upcoming match, long-term absentees Bremer, Juan Cabal, and Arkadiusz Milik will not feature. Additionally, Mattia Perin and Manuel Locatelli have been ruled out ahead of the Club World Cup.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The head referee for the match is Tori Penso (USA). This season, she has officiated 10 MLS games, averaging 3.4 yellow cards and 22.3 fouls per game.

Looking at the stats over the past six months, Al Ain have a slight edge in yellow cards (1.8 compared to 1.5). Meanwhile, matches involving Juventus see an average of 3.3 warnings. Considering the referee's statistics, it might be worth betting on total yellow cards under 4.5.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Both teams enter the match with low-scoring trends. In 9 of Juventus' last 10 games, no more than three goals were scored. The same goes for Al Ain's last seven consecutive matches. Both teams focus on defense. Therefore, a potential bet could be total goals under 3.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

It's unlikely Juventus will dominate to the extent that Al Ain won't get near their goal. Thus, Al Ain will likely have opportunities that may lead to corners. Moreover, Ivic's side has had at least three such set-pieces in 17 consecutive matches. In this scenario, it makes sense to bet on Al Ain total corners over 2.5.

Juventus are the clear favorites for the upcoming clash, boasting superior player quality and game organization compared to their opponents. However, the Italian side lacks fluidity, so even if they secure a win, it is unlikely to be a dominant one. In this scenario, a potential scoreline prediction could be a 0-2 victory for Juventus.

The Club World Cup has not been particularly high-scoring, aside from Bayern's impressive tally of ten goals. Challenging climate conditions at certain venues and acclimatization issues have played a role in this trend. The upcoming match is also expected to be low on goals, making total goals under 3.5 a key betting option, especially considering both teams have shown a pattern in this regard.