Al Hilal take on the visitors Pachuca in the round 3 match of FIFA Club World Cup. The match will be played on Friday, June 27th at Geodis Park (Nashville, TN).
Al Hilal had a brilliant 2023/2024 season. Back then, they managed to outperform even a highly motivated Al Nassr with Cristiano Ronaldo, showing remarkable consistency and numbers. However, they couldn't maintain that level into the following campaign. While the team still looked competitive, they clearly fell behind Al Ittihad domestically. Hopes of compensating for that with a run in the AFC Champions League ended in disappointment after losing the semifinal to city rivals Al Ahli. Following that setback, Al Hilal lured Simone Inzaghi to take over as manager, though attempts to attract more European star players fell short — several targets rejected the idea of moving to the Middle East. The team arrived in the United States with a new coach but a familiar squad. In their first match, they managed to hold Real Madrid to a draw — though it’s worth noting that Yassine Bounou saved a last-minute penalty from Valverde. The second game against Red Bull Salzburg ended in a goalless draw, showing resilience but also a lack of cutting edge in attack. They have now drawn four of their last five competitive matches, struggling to convert chances into goals.
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Pachuca looks to salvage a positive result, but expectations are low. The “Gophers” are over 130 years old. While not a traditional powerhouse, the club still boasts seven domestic league titles, including one from the 2022 Apertura. More importantly, last year Pachuca claimed their sixth CONCACAF Champions League title, earning their ticket to this Club World Cup. However, their domestic campaign this year was far less impressive. They finished only 8th in the regular season and were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. At the Club World Cup, they started with a disappointing 1-2 defeat to Red Bull Salzburg. In their second match, they put up a respectable fight against Real Madrid, creating several chances, but Thibaut Courtois made a string of crucial saves as the Spanish giants secured a 3-1 win — officially eliminating Pachuca from playoff contention. The Mexicans have now lost four of their last five matches across all competitions, clearly showing their recent dip in form.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. With nothing left to play for but pride, Pachuca’s motivation will understandably be low. In contrast, Al Hilal still has everything to fight for, and with their superior quality and organizational stability, they should be able to secure the win.
Prediction for the match: Al Hilal to win.
