With the newly-expanded FIFA Club World Cup now just around the corner, Sports Mole looks ahead to Group H and predicts how Real Madrid, Al-Ahli, Red Bull Salzburg and Pachuca will get on in the United States.
Real Madrid will endeavour to win a record-extending sixth FIFA Club World Cup when they compete at this summer’s newly-expanded 32-team tournament in the United States.
The Spanish giants, who last triumphed on the world stage in 2022, are joined in Group H by Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg, Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal and Mexican side Pachuca.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at Group H in greater depth.
Club World Cup Group H standings
Team
G
P
Al-Hilal (SAU)
0
0
Pachuca (MEX)
0
0
Real Madrid (SPA)
0
0
Red Bull Salzburg (AUS)
0
0
Club World Cup Group H fixtures
(all times BST)
Matchday 1
Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal (Wednesday, June 18 | 8pm )
Pachuca vs. RB Salzburg (Wednesday, June 18 | 11pm)
Matchday 2
Real Madrid vs. Pachuca (Sunday, June 22 | 8pm)
RB Salzburg vs. Al-Hilal Sunday, June 22 | 11pm)
Matchday 3
Al-Hilal vs. Pachuca (Friday, June 27 | 2am)
RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid (Friday, June 27 | 2am)
Club World Cup Group H predictions – who will qualify?
It is fair to say that the world of football would be left in shock if Real Madrid failed to finish top of Group H. Xabi Alonso has only just stepped into his role as head coach, but he has inherited a star-stubbed squad that should have few problems securing maximum points from all three fixtures.
Al-Hilal could pose the strongest challenge to Los Blancos for top spot, but they may have to settle for second place, potentially finishing ahead of Red Bull Salzburg to secure a spot in the knockout rounds. Pachuca, meanwhile, are deemed the rank outsiders in Group H and face an uphill battle to claim any points from their three fixtures.
Final Group H standings prediction
1.
Real Madrid
2.
Al-Hilal
3.
Red Bull Salzburg
4.
Pachuca
Who will be the top scorer from Group H?
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After making a somewhat slow start to life at Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe ended his debut campaign with the Spanish giants with a whopping 43 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions, 22 goals more that his nearest challenger at the club, Vinicius Junior (21).
The 26-year-old forward heads to the States in superb form having found the net 12 times in his last eight games for club and country, scoring in back-to-back matches for France in the UEFA Nations League earlier this month.
Clean sheets at a premium for Real Madrid
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Real Madrid are the overwhelming favourites to progress from Group H, but they may have to rely on their attacking brilliance to outscore their opponents as their defensive frailties could well be on display once again in the States.
Since the turn of the year, Los Blancos have conceded in 25 of their 36 matches across all competitions (69.4%), shipping two or more goals on 13 of those occasions – one of those games was against Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League, although the Spanish giants did run out 5-2 winners.
It remains to be seen how Real Madrid’s new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen adjust under Alonso, who currently has Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Daniel Carvajal and Ferland Mendy all in the treatment room.
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