Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the second round clashes in the Club World Cup group stage is set for Sunday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, where Argentine giants River Plate will take on Monterrey. I'm backing a bet on goals in this encounter with an attractive odds value.
Match preview
River Plate kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with confidence, dispatching Urawa Red Diamonds with clinical efficiency — just five shots on target resulted in three goals. This is further proof that Marcelo Gallardo's side knows how to make the most of their scoring chances. The Argentines are unbeaten in this tournament so far, proving they’re ready to dominate not only in South America but on the global stage as well.
The club consistently delivers attacking football: over their last four CWC matches, River have hit at least two goals per game. However, their defense hasn’t always been watertight — having conceded in three out of those four games, it's clear opponents know how to exploit their weaknesses. Still, thanks to cohesion and aggressive attacking play, River are capable of imposing their tempo on any rival.
Monterrey provided a pleasant surprise in the opening round, holding Inter to a draw — victory may have slipped away, but the team displayed character and a willingness to take the initiative. Under Domenec Torrent, the Mexicans refuse to sit back, frequently committing numbers forward, which pays dividends in goals scored. Yet defensive consistency remains elusive: Monterrey have now conceded in eight consecutive CWC matches.
The club’s international record also highlights their attacking prowess — only once in their last 13 matches have Monterrey failed to find the net. The problem, though, is that this attacking output often comes at the expense of defensive solidity. Given both sides’ attacking mindset and defensive frailties, we can confidently expect goals at both ends in this clash.
Probable line-ups
- River Plate: Franco Armani – Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martinez Quarta, German Pezzella, Marcos Acuña – Ignacio Fernandez, Enzo Perez, Kevin Castaño – Franco Mastantuono, Sebastian Driussi, Facundo Colidio
- Monterrey: Esteban Andrada – Ricardo Chavez, Victor Guzman, Sergio Ramos, Gerardo Arteaga – Lucas Ocampos, Stefan Medina, Oliver Torres, Sergio Canales, Jorge Rodriguez – German Berterame
Match facts and head-to-head
- River Plate are unbeaten in regulation time in four of their last five CWC matches
- Monterrey have conceded at least one goal in eight straight tournament matches
- This is the first-ever meeting between these teams at the Club World Cup
Prediction
Both teams favor attacking football and rarely leave the pitch without scoring. At the same time, each is vulnerable at the back, setting the stage for a thrilling, high-scoring affair. My pick for this match is over 2.5 goals at odds of 2.00.
