🔊 Which team will score the first points in the Club World Cup? Wydad and Al Ain find themselves as the underdogs in Group G. This was evident even after the draw. Both teams have played in a way that confirms their status. However, the club from Casablanca appears slightly better. That's why they are considered favorites in the battle for third place, although the difference in odds is minimal. They will remain third even with a draw, thanks to a better goal difference. Nonetheless, we'll explore various scenarios to make the prediction as optimal as possible. It's worth noting that the match will take place in Washington, at Audi Field.

Head-to-Head

📊 The opponents have not faced each other before.

Wydad Casablanca Team Overview

🔴 Just over a month ago, Wydad made a coaching change. Under Mohamed Amine Benhachem, the team concluded the Moroccan championship on a high note, finishing in the top three. He was officially confirmed as head coach just before the Club World Cup.

⚪ Wydad put in a decent performance in their opening match against Manchester City (0-2). They avoided a heavy defeat and frequently launched dangerous counterattacks, something even the "Citizens" acknowledged. In the clash with Juventus, the outcome was clear by the 16th minute as the Moroccans conceded two goals. However, they didn't give up, scoring their first goal of the tournament and leaving a positive impression despite the heavy loss (1-4). The "Bianconeri" converted all three of their shots on target, aided by an own goal. Wydad, on the other hand, doubled their opponent's tally in this regard. Additionally, they recorded 15 shots on goal, more than in their match against Man City (12).

Al Ain Team Overview

🟣 Al Ain have been one of the tournament's biggest disappointments. Only Auckland City, for whom mere participation is a significant achievement, have performed worse. The UAE club had higher expectations, especially after signing Vladimir Ivic in the winter. Known for his ability to organize a solid defense, Ivic has found success in domestic competitions, but the Club World Cup has exposed the gap in quality.

⚪ After two rounds, only three teams remain without a goal to their name, and Al Ain are one of them. In their opening match, they suffered a heavy defeat to Juventus (0-5), with their opponents already leading by four goals at halftime. Newcomer Rui Patricio failed to impress the coach, making only two saves. Consequently, Khalid Eisa took over goalkeeping duties against Manchester City, making five saves but still picking the ball out of his net frequently (0-6).

🔝 Given Al Ain's performance on American soil, it's hard to single anyone out. However, let's spotlight Soufiane Rahimi, who will face his compatriots. The forward, a product of Raja Casablanca's academy, may find this encounter particularly significant. While Rahimi hasn't contributed to the scoresheet in this tournament, neither has the rest of the team. Nonetheless, he has netted 11 goals for Al Ain this season and one for the Moroccan national team.

Latest news

Wydad Casablanca

🎙 Wydad's head coach Mohamed Amin Benhachem assured that his team will gain valuable experience from the Club World Cup. He confirmed that he will field his strongest lineup for the team's final match of the tournament. "We must win and leave the tournament with three points to preserve the team's dignity and reflect the true capabilities of our players," stated Benhachem.

✅ Wydad are preparing for the match with a full squad.

Al Ain

🎙 Al Ain defender Erik Jorgens de Menezes has apologized to the fans following their defeat to Manchester City. He noted that the match wouldn't have been one-sided if not for a few defensive lapses: “At this high level, there's no room for negligence and mistakes. We made some errors in our first match [against Juventus], and some of them reoccurred today. In such a major event, even the smallest details can make a difference. If you overlook them, it becomes challenging to achieve a positive result.”

✅ Al Ain are fully prepared for their upcoming match.

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

Analyzing the statistics over the past six months, matches involving these teams typically see more than four yellow cards on average. However, in the current tournament, their play has been fairly disciplined. In the second round, Wydad committed 17 fouls, yet they have only received three yellow cards throughout the tournament. Al Ain also has three bookings. Therefore, a reasonable prediction would be total yellow cards under 3.5.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Al Ain have yet to score in the Club World Cup, while Wydad have only found the net once. It's worth noting that their opponents were European giants. Despite this, don't expect a high-scoring affair in the upcoming match. In 10 of Wydad's last 11 matches, there have been no more than three goals, with the exception of a recent game against Juventus. Hence, an insightful prediction would be total goals under 3.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Wydad have taken four corners in each of their Club World Cup matches. Al Ain have managed the same number over two rounds. Despite this, bookmakers offer similar odds for success in this aspect of the game. Much will depend on how the match unfolds, but before it kicks off, a logical bet seems to be Wydad not to lose on corners.

Both teams have already lost their chances of advancing to the playoffs, which was expected with Manchester City and Juventus in the group. However, Wydad have shown promise, attacking boldly and creating scoring opportunities against such formidable opponents. In matches like these, motivation can become a key factor, and the club from Casablanca seems to have plenty of it. Thus, we suggest a potential final score of 2-1.

Al Ain make too many mistakes, which is unacceptable at this level of competition. The coach was unable to address this issue in their second match, and after conceding 11 goals, it's hard to have faith in the UAE side's defense. A draw might be their best outcome, but it won't lift them from the bottom of the standings. Therefore, our key bet is on Wydad to win with a handicap (0).