The FIFA Club World Cup’s newly-revamped format continues its maiden voyage, as the group stage begins to close.
A tournament that has staged a battle of continents, it has seen inferior names take on renowned clubs each in a bid to claim global glory.
With shock defeats and wide-margin victories apparent in match days so far, fans are sure to be entertained this week as places in the next round of the competition are at stake.
Here, Sport Preview’s Callum Close tips up some selections for some of Tuesday and Wednesday’s fixtures, as the group stage enters its concluding round.
Benfica vs Bayern Munich: Bayern to win + Over 2.5 Bayern goals – 15/4 (Bet365)
Tuesday night will see The Bank Of America Stadium host the clash of two European heavyweights looking to top the standings in Group C.
Bayern kicked off the tournament with a comprehensive 10-0 win over New Zealand’s champions Auckland City, before Michael Olise bagged an 84th-minute winner to defeat Argentine giants Boca Juniors.
They are top of Group C and their superior goal difference means that a draw in this fixture would see them qualify for the knockout stages as group winners.
Benfica, meanwhile, have taken four points from two matches, beating Auckland 6-0 and coming back from two goals down to draw with Boca – despite Italian striker Andrea Belloti’s sending off.
Both teams look set to qualify, but a win and seven-goal swing in favour of the Argentines, in their match against Auckland City, would put Benfica’s place in the knockout stage in jeopardy.
A draw in this match is respectably priced at 2/1 and would see both teams progress in the order they are in right now.
But Bayern arrive undefeated in their history against Benfica and when these two oppose each other, there are always goals.
The German champions have scored an average of 2.77 goals against Benfica across 13 matches and have netted 15 times in their last four head-to-heads.
With that in mind, Bayern to win and to score more than two goals is the selection at 15/4 with Bet365.
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Inter Miami vs Palmeiras: Lionel Messi to score + Both teams to score in the second half – 11/2 (Bet365)
Lionel Messi’s winning free-kick meant that Inter Miami made history last week by becoming the first Major League Soccer team to beat a European outfit.
They came from a goal down to defeat twice European champions Porto 2-1 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
It was their fifth successive game without defeat, meaning that manager Javier Mascherano’s side sit second in Group A and need only a point to secure their place in the knockout stages.
Their opponents, Brazil’s Palmeiras, are Group A’s table toppers and have yet to concede a goal in their two matches so far.
The South Americans drew 0-0 with Porto before earning their second win in this competition in a 2-0 triumph over Egyptian champions Al Ahly.
This fixture is sure to be competitive as both teams know that a win would see them top the group, but a loss would mean that their fate lies in the result of the Porto and Al Ahly match.
Messi contributing to a goal is an obvious place to start when it comes to betting tips.
He has 16 G/A in the MLS this season, the most of anyone, and is 6/5 with most bookmakers to have a goal involvement in this fixture.
However, all of the goals scored by these two teams so far in the tournament have come after half-time, so an interesting bet could be for both teams to score in the second half – priced at 3/1 with Bet365.
When combining the above, the odds are best priced at 11/2 (Bet365) and that is the selection.
Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD: Borussia Dortmund to win both halves + to score more than three goals – 3-1 (Bet365)
It should come as no surprise to see that Dortmund are heavy favourites to come out on top here, though they haven’t dominated Group F as expected.
A shock 0-0 draw with Brazilian side Fluminese meant that they got off to a rocky start which continued in their second game.
Despite winning the match 4-3, manager Niko Kovac’s side survived a late scare in which they conceded twice against South Africa’s champions Mamelodi Sundowns, after being 4-1 up.
Dortmund have now won seven of their last eight matches, scoring more than three goals in all of those victories, and know that a win here would see them through to the last 16.
Ulsan, however, will see themselves exit the competition at the first hurdle having lost both of their matches at this year’s Club World Cup.
From a betting perspective, a Dortmund win and some stipulations seems an obvious play.
Dortmund have scored their opening goal inside 20 minutes in four of their last six matches and with a far inferior opponent, I expect that finding the net will be no issue.
The selection is Dortmund to win both halves and to score more than three goals – Bet365 price it at 3/1.
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