A crucial European showdown is set to cap off Group H proceedings at the Club World Cup this Thursday, as RB Salzburg faces Real Madrid with both sides vying for a berth in the round of 16.
Both teams currently sit level on four points, two points clear of third-placed Al-Hilal. Real Madrid holds the top spot on tiebreakers. The most straightforward path sees both European teams progressing, though the narrow points gap means if either Salzburg or Real Madrid suffers a defeat, they will need the already eliminated Pachuca to defeat Al-Hilal to secure their place in the next phase.
The Spanish giants are favored by oddsmakers to win the match and the group as Xabi Alonso`s early tenure continues. His first two games have featured notable moments, beginning with a sluggish 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal, followed by a 3-1 victory over Pachuca after Raul Asencio`s early red card in the seventh minute. Asencio is suspended for Thursday`s match, while the recovery of Kylian Mbappe from gastroenteritis remains a subject of discussion.
Match Details
- Date: Thursday, June 26
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Live stream: Watch on DAZN (for free)
- Odds: RB Salzburg +750; Draw +490; Real Madrid -370
Group H Qualification Scenarios
Real Madrid advances to the round of 16 with:
- A win or a draw against RB Salzburg.
- A loss to RB Salzburg AND Al-Hilal draws or loses to Pachuca.
RB Salzburg advances to the round of 16 with:
- A win or a draw against Real Madrid.
- A loss to Real Madrid AND Al-Hilal loses to Pachuca.
Al-Hilal advances to the round of 16 with:
- A win against Pachuca AND Real Madrid loses to RB Salzburg OR RB Salzburg loses to Real Madrid.
Pachuca: Eliminated from the competition.
Predicted Starting Lineups
RB Salzburg: Christian Zawieschitzky, Stefan Lainer, Joane Gadou, Jacob Rasmussen, Frans Kratzig, Mads Bidstrup, Soumaila Diabate, Nene Dorgeles, Oscar Gloukh, Edmund Baidoo, Karim Onisiwo
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, Fran Garcia, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior
Player to Watch
Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid: Despite some questions about the attack, Alonso has maintained consistency in his early lineups, ensuring Jude Bellingham plays a central role in midfield. He`s expected to be key on Thursday as Los Blancos aim for the round of 16, especially after scoring his first goal under Alonso in the 3-1 win over Pachuca, which helped secure the win after playing with 10 men.
Key Storyline
Will Kylian Mbappe or Rodrygo feature?: Alonso may provide an update on Mbappe`s availability later today, following his recent discharge from hospital. The World Cup winner did not travel for the match against Pachuca but has reportedly rejoined training. His likelihood of playing on Thursday remains uncertain.
Regardless of Mbappe`s status, there are questions about Alonso`s forward line. Rodrygo made his first appearance since the Copa del Rey final in the draw against Al-Hilal, suggesting his future is secure. However, he didn`t start against Pachuca, reigniting speculation. Whether he returns to the lineup against Salzburg or academy player Gonzalo Garcia gets another opportunity is a major point of interest ahead of the match.
Match Prediction
Regardless of how Alonso`s team lines up, Real Madrid possesses the quality to secure a comfortable win against Salzburg, particularly after demonstrating effectiveness even with 10 players against Pachuca. While it`s early days under Alonso, the team`s star power and depth across the pitch suggest a fairly straightforward victory is probable. Pick: RB Salzburg 1, Real Madrid 2
