Al-Hilal and Pachuca are scheduled to meet for their final fixture in the Club World Cup group stage. Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi, currently sits in third place in Group H with two points, having secured draws in their first two matches against Real Madrid (2-2) and RB Salzburg (0-0). The Saudi Arabian side has a chance to advance with a win, provided the other group match between Real Madrid and RB Salzburg results in a decisive winner or a 0-0 draw. In contrast, Pachuca has already been eliminated from the tournament, having failed to earn any points from their opening two games.
For those interested in watching the match, here are the details:
- Date: Thursday, June 26
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee
- Live stream: Available on DAZN (often with a free trial option)
- 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 Simone Inzaghi at Lazio, is expected to be a crucial figure in helping his Al-Hilal teammates quickly adapt to the new coach`s tactical approach. His performances are becoming central to Inzaghi`s strategy at the club and will likely reflect the ideas being implemented by the former Inter manager.
Storyline to Watch
Al-Hilal Showing Improvement Under Inzaghi — While it`s still early in Simone Inzaghi`s tenure, signs of his influence are beginning to appear. Across their two matches, Al-Hilal has averaged 53% possession and matched their opponents with 42 total shots. However, they lag behind in shots on target, with only six compared to their opponents` thirteen. Salem Al Dawsari has been key in attack, creating five chances and taking seven shots. Ruben Neves leads the team in distribution, completing 150 passes, 57 more than the next player.
Prediction
Al-Hilal is favored to win against Pachuca, but their progression to the next stage will largely depend on the outcome of the other Group H fixture between Real Madrid and RB Salzburg.
Pick: Al-Hilal 2, Pachuca 0.
