Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
The second round clash of the FIFA Club World Cup between Austria's Salzburg and Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal will take place on Monday at Audi Field in Washington. Here’s a bet on the outcome of this encounter with a tempting set of odds.
Match preview
The Austrian side had a disappointing Champions League campaign, losing four consecutive matches. In the Austrian Bundesliga, the "Bulls" also finished only second, surrendering the title to Sturm. Yet Salzburg managed to regroup and squeeze the most out of their opening clash with Pachuca, though luck was certainly on their side — by many metrics, the Mexicans looked no worse.
Coach Thomas Leach seems to be banking on discipline and patience, but that might not be enough against Al-Hilal. The second half remains a major concern — Salzburg consistently loses control after the break: in their last 10 matches, they've managed just one second-half win.
The Saudi powerhouse kicked off the tournament with a true statement of intent: a draw against Real Madrid is a solid result, especially for an Asian club. New manager Simone Inzaghi is still shaping his Al-Hilal, but it's already clear this team is not afraid to attack and take the initiative — even against global giants.
Experience and individual quality make Al-Hilal the favorites here — this is not just an eastern club with deep pockets, but a well-oiled machine boasting leaders of genuine European caliber. The stats speak volumes too: in 24 of their last 25 official matches, the Saudis have scored at least once.
Probable line-ups
- Salzburg: Zaveshitskiy; Gadu, Kretzig, Lainer, Rasmussen; Dorgeles, Glukh, Bidstrup, Sulzbacher; Ratkov, Baidoo.
- Al-Hilal: Bono; Koulibaly, Lodi, Al-Tambakti, Cancelo; S. Al-Dawsari, N. Al-Dawsari, Milinkovic-Savic; Malcom, Neves, Marcos Leonardo.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Salzburg and Al-Hilal have never faced each other before
- Al-Hilal have avoided defeat in regulation time in 12 of their last 14 continental and global matches
- The "Both teams to score" bet has won in Salzburg’s last 4 matches
Prediction
On paper, Salzburg have a shot at grabbing points, but the reality is that any goal from Al-Hilal could prove fatal for the Austrians. The Saudis boast a powerful attack and a strong record against opponents of higher caliber than their current rivals. I expect Al-Hilal to secure all three points and virtually lock up a place in the next round. Our bet: Al-Hilal to win at odds of 1.95.
