Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the FIFA Club World Cup match.
Borussia Dortmund topped their group but had the leakiest defence among all group winners, conceding three goals. Monterrey, meanwhile, emerged from a tougher section in second place, avoiding defeat against both Inter Milan and River Plate.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund began their campaign with a goalless draw against Fluminense, followed by a 4:3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns and a narrow 1:0 victory against Ulsan Hyundai. However, defensive issues persist — in all three group matches, their opponents generated at least 1.20 xG. Finishing has also been subpar: they scored just once from 3.37 xG against Ulsan and failed to find the net against Fluminense.
Monterrey
Monterrey looked solid against elite opposition. The Mexican team held UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan to a 1:1 draw, kept a clean sheet against River Plate (0:0), and then thrashed Urawa Red Diamonds (4:0). The Mexicans have also impressed going forward, scoring in 16 of their last 17 matches. Defensively, they’re resilient too — Monterrey haven’t lost by more than one goal since July last year.
Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey Prediction
This clash promises to be closely contested, likely decided by fine margins. Borussia Dortmund haven’t run riot in any match at this tournament, while Monterrey have been tough to break down, conceding just once so far. The Mexicans may be underdogs, but they’re unlikely to suffer a heavy defeat.
