Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the FIFA Club World Cup match.
In Group K of the FIFA Club World Cup, last season’s finalists Real Madrid and Al-Hilal go head-to-head once again. A win would virtually guarantee a spot in the knockout round, with Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg expected to struggle against the two strongest sides in the group.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid are making their seventh appearance at the Club World Cup and already hold five titles in the competition. The squad includes a formidable attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, who have combined for 51 goals in the La Liga this season. They are supported by two top-level defenders, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen. Real Madrid have been prolific in front of goal, scoring at least twice in each of their last six outings. However, there are concerns at the back, with Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois all still on the road to recovery from injury.
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal arrive at the tournament under new manager Simone Inzaghi, formerly of Inter Milan. The squad features several well-known European players including Aleksandar Mitrović, Kalidou Koulibaly, Renan Lodi and Sergej Milinković-Savić. The team finished second in the Saudi Pro League but led the division in goals scored, netting 95 times over the campaign. Defensively, however, the side showed vulnerability, conceding 41 goals — the most among the league’s top six finishers.
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal Prediction
Both teams are renowned for their attacking style and rarely fail to find the net. At the same time, defensive frailties are a recurring issue. With both sides favouring open, expansive football, fans can reasonably expect a high-scoring encounter — especially given that the last Club World Cup final between these two ended in a chaotic 5:3 result.
