Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
In the second round of the Club World Cup group stage, Salzburg will face Al Hilal. The match will take place in Washington in the early hours of Monday, June 23. Kick-off is scheduled for 00:00 Central European Time. I recommend betting on a high-scoring affair in this encounter.
Match preview
The Austrian giants continue to rely on aggressive attacking football and young, pacey players. The club is renowned for talent development and frequently introduces new football stars to the world stage.
Salzburg’s hallmark is high-intensity pressing, vertical attacks, and dynamic wing play. The "Red Bulls" are regulars in the UEFA Champions League, and domestically they have not finished lower than second in the league since 2005.
During this period, Salzburg has claimed 14 Austrian league titles, though their dominance was recently interrupted by Sturm in the past two years. It’s worth noting that defensive issues persist — the Austrians often leave space behind their defenders and take risks at set pieces. However, thanks to their speed and attacking intent, they almost always create a wealth of scoring chances.
Particularly dangerous is forward Oscar Gloukh, whose goal secured victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the opening round. That result puts Salzburg in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stage.
The Saudi club, under Jorge Jesus, has shown solid form and an attacking mindset. Al Hilal is one of the most decorated clubs in Saudi Arabia and Asia as a whole.
Al Hilal prefers to control the tempo, excels in positional attacks, and leverages the experience of key players to capitalize on every opportunity. The central defense can be vulnerable, especially against quick counterattacks — an area where Salzburg could find their opening.
Recently, Simone Inzaghi took over as head coach, having enjoyed a successful spell at Inter in recent years. The team’s first match under his guidance was against Real Madrid, and overall, they put in a decent performance.
The 1-1 draw leaves Al Hilal in a strong position to advance from the group. The next match will be decisive: anything but a win will almost certainly see Al Hilal eliminated from the playoffs.
Match facts
- Salzburg have both scored and conceded in four consecutive matches.
- Al Hilal are unbeaten in their last six matches.
- Salzburg average 2.2 goals per game, while Al Hilal also average 2.2 goals per game.
Probable lineups
- Salzburg: Zawiejski, Rasmussen, Gadu, Kratzig, Lainer, Diabate, Bidstrup, Nene, Gloukh, Baidoo, Onisiwo.
- Al Hilal: Bono, Koulibaly, Al-Tambakti, Cancelo, Lodi, Milinkovic-Savic, Neves, Kanno, Al-Dawsari, Malcom, Marcos Leonardo.
H2H
The teams have never met before.
Prediction
This fixture is crucial for both teams in the group stage. A win would secure early qualification for Salzburg, while for Al Hilal, it’s almost a must-win to keep their hopes alive. A draw suits neither side, as it would intensify the group intrigue and give Pachuca an extra lifeline. Expect an open, event-filled encounter. Both teams are potent in attack but sometimes falter defensively. The game is likely to be played at a high tempo, and backing both teams to score looks a smart bet.
