Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the third-round matches of the Club World Cup will take place on Monday at Lumen Field, where the local Seattle Sounders host French giants PSG. I’m backing a bet on goals in this clash, with an attractive odds offering.
Match preview
This tournament has been nothing short of disappointing for Seattle: two straight defeats have all but dashed their playoff hopes. Against Atletico, the Americans tried to put up a fight, but the 1-3 result made the gulf in class crystal clear. Still, Brian Schmetzer’s squad has one undeniable asset — they know how to find the net even against stronger opposition and rarely leave the pitch goalless.
Given the current situation, Seattle won’t be parking the bus: their chances are slim, but they’ll look to make a statement in front of their home fans. The hosts are unlikely to keep things tight at the back, but expect them to rely on aggressive wing play and the partnership of Rothrock and De la Vega, who have previously created chances out of thin air.
PSG, meanwhile, stunned everyone last round by falling to Botafogo without scoring. Luis Enrique’s side dominated possession but let themselves down with poor finishing. Now, PSG have no margin for error — another defeat could mean elimination from the playoffs. The French must win to advance, so there’s no doubting their motivation.
After the Brazilian setback, PSG will be out for a statement-making revenge: the attack featuring Kvaratskhelia and Ramos has the firepower to tear apart a Seattle defense that consistently struggles under high pressure. PSG almost always play vibrant, high-scoring football, and facing the group underdog is a perfect chance to get back on track and build momentum for the playoffs.
Probable lineups
- Seattle Sounders: Stefan Frei — Jon Bell, Jackson Ragen, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi — Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnak, Danny Musovski, Reed Baker-Whiting — Paul Rothrock, Pedro De la Vega.
- PSG: Gianluigi Donnarumma — Lucas Beraldo, Willian Pacho, Lucas Hernandez, Achraf Hakimi — Senny Mayulu, Vitinha, Warren Zaïre-Emery — Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Gonçalo Ramos.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Seattle has scored in 10 of its last 12 Club World Cup and CONCACAF Champions League matches.
- PSG have won 6 of their last 8 official matches in international competitions.
- This will be the first ever official meeting between Seattle and PSG.
Prediction
Both teams will go on the attack: the hosts have nothing to lose, while the visitors are desperate to bounce back. The gulf in class, however, is glaring — even if Seattle finds the net, PSG should respond with plenty more. Based on current form and stats, the bet "PSG to win and over 2.5 goals" at odds of 1.60 looks like great value.
