Al-Hilal and Pachuca are set to face off in their final match of the Club World Cup group stage. Al-Hilal, currently sitting third in Group H with two points from two draws (2-2 against Real Madrid and 0-0 against RB Salzburg), needs a win to potentially advance. Their qualification also depends on the outcome of the Real Madrid vs. RB Salzburg match, requiring a definite winner or a 0-0 draw in that game. Pachuca has already been eliminated from the tournament, having failed to secure any points in their first two matches.
Match Information
Date: Thursday, June 26
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee
Odds: Al-Hilal -170; Draw +320; Pachuca +400
Possible Lineups
Al-Hilal XI: Bono; Cancelo, Tambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi; Neves, N. Al-Dawsari; Malcom, Milinkovic-Savic, S. Al-Dawsari; Leonardo.
Pachuca XI: Moreno; Sanchez, Bauermann, Pereira, Gonzalez; Montiel, Palavecino; Dominguez, J. Kennedy, Kenedy; Rondon.
Player to Watch
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Al-Hilal — The Serbian midfielder, who previously worked under coach Simone Inzaghi at Lazio, is vital for helping his teammates quickly adapt to the new tactical setup. He has become a central figure for Inzaghi at Al-Hilal, and his performance will likely reflect the ideas of the former Inter manager.
Storyline to Watch
Al-Hilal`s Progress Under Inzaghi — While it`s still early to see the full impact of Inzaghi`s changes, Al-Hilal has shown some indicators. They`ve averaged 53% possession and matched their opponents with 42 shots across their two games. However, they have registered fewer shots on target (six compared to opponents` thirteen). Key players driving the team include Salem Al Dawsari, who leads in chances created, shots, and crosses, and Ruben Neves, who tops the team in completed passes.
Match Prediction
Al-Hilal is expected to secure a victory against Pachuca. However, whether they advance from the group stage will largely depend on the result of the other match between Real Madrid and RB Salzburg.
Predicted Score: Al-Hilal 2, Pachuca 0.
