In the third round of the FIFA Club World Cup group stage, Auckland City will face Boca Juniors. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, at 21:00 Central European Time. Here’s my betting tip for this clash.
Auckland City – Boca Juniors: match preview
Auckland City are the undisputed powerhouse on the domestic stage. They are the reigning champions of New Zealand and winners of the OFC Champions League, a trophy they’ve now lifted four years in a row. Still, it’s important to remember this is a semi-professional squad, and at this level of competition, they’re clearly outmatched. In the opening round, they faced Bayern Munich and suffered a crushing 0-10 defeat. In the second round, the New Zealanders held their own in the first half against Benfica, but ultimately lost again—this time 0-6. As a result, they have no chance of reaching the playoffs and a goal difference of 0:16.
Boca Juniors—one of the most legendary clubs in football history—have been putting in a decent showing at this tournament. Nevertheless, the Argentinians’ chances of advancing to the playoffs are slim. In their opener, they drew 2-2 with Benfica, despite leading 2-0 as early as the 27th minute. The second round saw them take on Bayern. Boca fought hard and looked solid, but the class of the Munich side prevailed, resulting in a 1-2 defeat. After two rounds, the Argentinians have just one point and trail second place by three. Benfica’s goal difference stands at 8:2, but the Portuguese are set to face Bayern next. This means Boca not only need to win, but to do so emphatically—their own goal difference is currently 3:4—and they must hope for a Bayern victory.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Auckland have lost their last two matches by a combined score of 0:16.
- Auckland City have the tournament’s worst attack and worst defense.
- Boca Juniors are winless in their last three matches: two defeats and a draw.
- The teams have never faced each other before.
Probable lineups
- Auckland City: Garrow – Lagos, Boxall, Mitchell, den Heijer, Bell – Zeb, Illich, Zhou Tong, Yu – Bevan
- Boca Juniors: Marchesín – Blanco, Rojo, Battaglia, Blondel – Senon, Delgado, Belmonte, Palacios – Velasco, Merentiel
Prediction
There’s no doubt Boca Juniors are the favorites here. Moreover, the Argentinians desperately need a big win, so their motivation will be sky-high. With strong fan support behind them, Boca will push forward from the opening whistle. I’m backing Boca’s individual total over 5.5 goals at odds of 1.87.
