Club World Cup Preview – Best Bets for June 14-15 Opening Weekend
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami – Lionel Messi to score @ +105
I had to take the plus money on one of the legends of the game getting on the scoresheet in this opening fixture of the new format Club World Cup. Inter Miami fans will be willing him to score, the majority of soccer fans worldwide will be willing him to score, and it’s likely the organizers will be too!
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner seems to have come back from international duty unscathed and will be looking to pick up where he left off in the colors of Miami. His last appearance at the start of the month was a Messi masterclass, having a hand in all five goals in the rout of Columbus Crew, scoring two and assisting the other three.
That’s a total of 10 goals and seven assists in 13 MLS appearances this season. Not bad for a 37-year-old.
With Miami’s tendency to concede, they will look to their Argentine captain and talisman to ensure they get off to a positive start in the tournament curtain raiser.
Bayern Munich vs. Auckland – Michael Olise to assist @ +114
Yes, of course, I was tempted to take Bayern on the -4.5 Asian Handicap in this one at odds of +100, and I wouldn’t put you off doing so. I can’t see them failing to win by at least four or five goals. But that brings me to the bet I have gone with at a slightly bigger price.
There were a few eyebrows raised when Vincent Kompany made Michael Olise his second signing after becoming Bayern head coach, paying Crystal Palace around $65 million for his services. However, the move could not have gone any better, and the French international star’s quality has shone brightly.
The 23-year-old scored 12 goals on his way to being named Bundesliga’s Rookie of the Season, but it was his league-high tally of 17 assists that really caught the eye. That is two more goals and three more assists than Florian Wirtz, who is on the verge of a $150 million move to English Premier League champions Liverpool.
Olise is the +500 to provide the most assists across this tournament, and yet we are getting plus money for him to get off the mark with at least one against this bunch of New Zealand part-timers. I’m all over that.
PSG vs. Atletico Madrid – Désiré Doué to score or assist @ +180
What a great game this promises to be on the opening weekend of the competition. PSG were exceptional against Inter Milan in the Champions League final. In a team where every player excelled, Désiré Doué stood out and was rewarded with the player of the match award.
The Parisians are both ruthless and relentless in attack, and the 20-year-old is at the forefront of that. Two goals and one assist was some return. He will be right up for another opportunity to showcase his incredible talent to a global audience.
Luis Enrique saw his side fire in 15 goals over the last four fixtures of the season, as they seemed to peak at the right time. They scored a massive 38 times in 17 Champions League fixtures and face an Atletico Madrid side that kept only two clean sheets in their 10 games in the same competition. They certainly seemed to have opened up a lot more than in the early days under Diego Simeone and featured in some crazy fixtures in the campaign just gone, including a 4-4 tie with Barcelona.
Both Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola picked up injuries while on international duty with France, which should guarantee a start and plenty of game time for Doué. He scored 15 goals across the campaign, and he can add to that tally at the Rose Bowl.
Palmeiras vs. FC Porto – Palmeiras tie no bet @ -121
In a previous piece, I revealed how I have bet Palmeiras to top Group A. To do that, they must get a positive result against Porto on the opening match day. Obviously, I expect them to do just that, so I am doubling down.
Taking a tie-no-bet gives us the safety net of a full stake refund should the game end in a tie, but Porto really looks there for the taking to me. As a reminder, they finished a huge 11 points behind Portuguese champions Sporting and outside of the top two for a second successive season, something that hadn’t happened since 1977.
The Dragons also had a disastrous Europa League campaign, failing to reach the last 16 in the second-tier competition. Palmeiras are a side that knows what they are doing and how to win under Abel Ferreira. Two league titles and a runners-up spot are no fluke, and neither is winning all six of their Copa Libertadores fixtures this term.
The Brazilians are the team to side with here.
Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak to score or assist @ +215
With Champions League winners PSG and La Liga giants Atletico Madrid waiting as the other members of Group B, this game takes on vital importance. Lose, and it is the end of the road before it has begun!
The Sounders have home-field advantage and will be desperate to use it to maximum advantage, particularly in this, their most winnable fixture. A 3-2 loss to Minnesota was a first defeat in 15 games at Lumen Field, so they will bring confidence of a really strong record on home soil.
With both sides needing a win here, we should see a fairly open contest. I think that home advantage could prove decisive. Seattle can exploit the Brazilian side that is showing the impact of losing key personnel, both from the coaching setup and the playing staff. More departures are due once this tournament concludes.
If the Sounders are to come out on top, expect Albert Rusnak to be involved. The Slovakian mirrors the club he plays for in that he has a superb record at Lumen Field.
Rusnak, who started his soccer journey at Manchester City, has been directly involved in 20 goals across his last 26 appearances on home soil. With a fairly even split of eight goals and 12 assists, it makes sense to play a ticket that cashes if he does either, especially at an attractive-looking plus money.
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Tournament Betting Preview
Groups Preview
Top Goalscorers Betting Preview
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