The Club World Cup continues to progress, with the quarter-finals soon to be underway.
Just eight teams remain in the hope of crowning themselves club world champions by being the first to win under the tournament’s new format.
From ‘giant killings’ to thumpings of lesser-known names, the tournament has thrown up plenty of goals and surprises.
Here, Sport Preview’s Callum Close previews the opening two matches of the quarter-final stage and tips up his selections.
Fluminense vs Al-Hilal: Draw + Jhon Arias to score or assist – 8/1 (PaddyPower)
The Camping World Stadium will stage the clash of two teams that have defied the odds to be here, Brazil’s Fluminense and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal.
The former put in one of the most defensively-disciplined displays ever seen to defeat Italian giants Inter Milan.
Manager Renato Gaucho’s side started the game ruthlessly, taking the lead in the third minute before frustrating their superior opponents by welcoming them to have the ball, whilst they remained solid in their defensive shape.
They stole a second goal in stoppage time of the second half, which capped a memorable performance for the South Americans.
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola saw his perfect (11/11) record in this competition come to an end, as Al-Hilal overcame the odds to defeat his Manchester City side 4-3.
The Arabians came from behind to lead 2-1 in the second half, before striker Erling Haaland’s equaliser took the game to extra-time, where they re-took the lead twice and knocked out one of the favourites to win the competition.
Both Fluminenese and Al-Hilal remain unbeaten in this tournament, adding to a run of nine and 10 consecutive matches, respectively, in which they’ve not lost.
With both teams recording two draws so far in this competition, a favourable betting option could be the match to end in a draw – priced at 12/5.
My selection is the match to end in a draw and for Fluminense’s Jhon Arias to score or assist – best priced at 8.29/1 with PaddyPower.
The Columbian winger has created the second most chances in the tournament (12) and has notched two goal contributions at this tournament.
MORE BETTING TIPS: FIFA Club World Cup betting tips: Real Madrid to down Dortmund; PSG attack to purr
Chelsea vs Palmeiras: Chelsea to win + Marc Cucurella and Richard Rios to commit over 1.5 fouls each – 4/1 (PaddyPower)
Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field will host a re-match between 2021’s finalists, as Chelsea take on Palmeiras.
Despite being the heavy favourites, Chelsea were taken to extra-time in that final – a match they ended up winning 2-1.
They will line-up as an entirely new team to play a Palmeiras side featuring three players that faced them, almost four years ago.
Their 4-1 win over FC Porto, in the ‘last-16’, made it six wins from seven for manager Enzo Maresca’s side – though the loss came in this competition against Flamenco, another Brazilian club.
Palmeiras beat fellow countrymen Botafogo 1-0 in the last round – though, like Chelsea, they needed extra-time to do so.
The result meant that they remain unbeaten in this tournament, conceding only two goals – both of which came in the same game – against Inter Miami.
Chelsea are evens to get the job done so the betting angle in this fixture is a Chelsea win, with some stipulations.
Both teams are amongst those with those that have received the highest amount of yellow cards in this tournament; Chelsea have seen their players carded nine times, whilst Palmeiras players have been booked 10 times.
My selection is Marc Cucurella and Richard Rios both to commit over 1.5 fouls and for Chelsea to win the match.
It is priced at 4/1 (PaddyPower) and both players are averaging over two fouls per game in this competition.
