Club Leon vs Urawa Reds prediction: WORLD: FIFA Club World Cup betting tips on match 2023-12-14 14:30.
The FIFA Club World Cup returns for its 20th edition and pits together the reigning CONCACAF and AFC Champions League winners as Mexico’s Club León face Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the second round, with the winner set to take on Manchester City. It’s the Central American outfit’s first appearance at the tournament, but despite their prior accomplishments in beating MLS side LAFC 3-1 in their showcase final, they enter here in poor form having won just two of their past nine competitive outings (D3, L4).
It’s been a case of defensive frustration of late for León, as that same streak of matches has seen them fail to record a single clean sheet, whilst each of their last four fixtures have seen them concede two or more goals. Improvement is desperately needed in that department then, especially if they’re to go one better than compatriots Tigres UANL in 2020 and become the first Mexican side to ever win the FIFA Club World Cup this time around.
Urawa will fancy their chances at progression from this second round clash as a result, as they themselves look to become the first ever AFC representative to win this competition. The Japanese side won their third AFC Champions League title back in May at the expense of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal and now arrive in the same country looking to improve upon their best ever result in this tournament – a third-placed finish back in 2007.
Like their opposition in this clash, the Red Diamonds also enter this season’s tournament in poor form, which was further compounded by a 2-1 loss to Hanoi FC in the Asian Champions League last week. That result in turn made it just two victories across Urawa’s last nine competitive outings (D1, L6), six of which saw them concede 2+ goals in the process.
Players to watch: Since joining León in July, striker Federico Viñas has netted eight goals across 18 appearances for the club, six of which have come between the 40 and 60 minute marks. Meanwhile, Urawa centre back Alexander Scholz has scored 18 goals for the club with his side only losing one of his 18 goalscoring appearances to date.
Hot stat: All but one of Urawa’s last seven matches produced over 2.5 total goals.