🔊 Can the unexpected group leader hold onto the top spot? Red Bull Salzburg have made a strong start in the Club World Cup, leading their group. However, the toughest challenges for the Austrian side are yet to come. The first of these is a clash against one of the giants of Asian football, Al-Hilal. The runners-up of the Saudi Arabian league enter as solid favorites, but with several upsets in the opening round, it's wise to approach any bet with caution. We offer our prediction for the match, set to take place on June 23 at Audi Field in Washington.

Head-to-Head

📊 Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Hilal are set to face off on the football pitch for the very first time.

RB Salzburg Team Overview

🔴 The Austrian team, which many believe had a disappointing season, is seen by some as undeserving of a spot in the Club World Cup. However, they seem unfazed by the criticism. Their opening match against Pachuca turned out to be a success for the "Red Bulls," ensuring they won't leave the U.S. with zero points. To be fair, Thomas Letsch's squad didn't outplay their opponents, but they capitalized on their chances more effectively.

⚪️ The winning goal was credited to the seasoned Karim Onisiwo, but the spotlight was stolen by Oscar Gloukh, who opened the scoring. The young Israeli netted one of the most stunning goals of the first round, and perhaps of the entire tournament, skillfully sidestepping a defender with a feint before curling the ball into the far corner from outside the box. As a true leader, he inspired his teammates to follow his lead.

Al Hilal Riyadh Team Overview

🔵 It's no exaggeration to say that Al-Hilal have emerged as one of the revelations of the opening round of the Club World Cup. They didn't just snatch points from Real Madrid; they genuinely impressed on the pitch. Yes, in the second half, the team clearly struggled under the pressure from Los Blancos, but before the break, they at times dominated their opponents. Simone Inzaghi likely hasn't had much time to implement tactical changes, so the "Blues" fans owe a lot to Jorge Jesus, who has shaped this squad.

🔝 As for individual performances, three players stood out. Yassine Bounou made several crucial saves, including stopping a penalty from Fede Valverde in the 92nd minute. Ruben Neves scored from the spot and controlled the midfield. Captain Salem Al-Dawsari may not have been on the scoresheet, but he was instrumental, causing significant problems for Madrid's right flank defense.

Latest news

RB Salzburg

📌 The match between Salzburg and Pachuca extended significantly beyond its scheduled time due to a thunderstorm interruption early in the second half. The game resumed only after a one-and-a-half-hour delay. Given the tight schedule, this could impact the players' recovery.

🎙 "In the first half, we played well and created many chances, although we also allowed the opponent some opportunities. Still, I believe we were slightly better. I'm pleased we scored one more goal than them. We've got the three points—onward we go. I haven't watched Al-Hilal's game, but we know we're up against a team full of top stars—and now they've added Simone Inzaghi, a coach who's reached the Champions League final twice. We're facing a tough challenge ahead, but we've got nothing to lose," shared Salzburg's head coach Thomas Leitch.

❌ Moussa Kounfolo Yeo and Karim Konate have been sidelined for a long time with knee injuries. Nicolas Capaldo has been out since late April due to a finger fracture.

Al Hilal Riyadh

🎙 Simone Inzaghi summed up the clash with Real Madrid: “It was a good match. My team performed very well, playing with great organization. We played as a unit, all fighting together against Madrid, who are among the top three teams in the world. I couldn't have asked for more.”

❌ Al-Hilal face a significant setback with just one but crucial absence. Aleksandar Mitrovic hasn't recovered in time from an injury, causing him to miss the opening round match. This impacts the attacking prowess of the "Blues," as Marcos Leonardo didn't look particularly convincing at the forefront of the attack. It's still uncertain whether the Serbian will play against Salzburg.

⚽️ Goal Predictions

⚽️ Goal Predictions

Is Al-Hilal the favorite? Absolutely. But does that mean they'll keep a clean sheet? We think not. The "Blues" don't often maintain a spotless defense, while Salzburg have been on a roll, scoring at least twice in their last four consecutive matches. Considering this, a bet on both teams to score (yes) seems logical, as it has hit in 9 of the last 10 matches involving the "Red Bulls".

🚩 Corner Predictions

Here, we'll play it safe with a cautious bet on over 3.5 corners for Al-Hilal. The odds may be modest, but the "Blues" have surpassed this mark in 13 of their last 15 matches, indicating the reliability of this choice. Simone Inzaghi's squad delivered six corner kicks against Real and are likely to be active in this department once again.

Based on what we observed in the opening round, Al Hilal appear significantly stronger than Salzburg. The team is eager to make a mark on the global stage following a disappointing season. They boast a better-organized play and a noticeably stronger squad. Moreover, the players are accustomed to challenging weather conditions.

As you might have guessed, we're leaning towards betting on a win for the nominal visitors. This seems promising, but our editorial team considers a wager on Al Hilal's individual total over 1.5 goals to be less risky. The Club World Cup is gradually becoming a tournament full of surprises, so upsets can't be ruled out entirely. Nonetheless, we foresee a scoreline of 3-1 in favor of the favorites.