River Plate take on the visitors Urawa Reds in the round 1 match of FIFA Club World Cup. The match will be played on Tuesday, June 17th at Lumen Field (Seattle, WA).
River Plate are still far from their best. The Millonarios made a strong statement in 2023, dominating Argentine football by winning the Supercopa, the Diego Maradona Trophy, and the league title. However, their form declined significantly afterward, and they slipped to 5th place in the 2024 domestic standings. This season hasn't started smoothly either. They performed decently in the Apertura group stage, finishing second, but were surprisingly knocked out in the playoffs by Platense — although that side did go on to win the title for the first time in their history. In the Copa Libertadores, however, River looked much more confident, topping their group with 12 points and qualifying for the playoffs without much trouble. Still, fans are waiting to see consistent performances against stronger international opposition.
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Urawa Red Diamonds have a long and decorated history in Japanese football. Their last league title came all the way back in 1982, but they’ve made a name for themselves in cup competitions, including three AFC Champions League titles — the latest in 2022. However, last year’s J-League campaign was disappointing, with the team finishing just 13th. This season has been better, as they climbed into the top three in the table. Still, May brought a rough patch — just one win in six matches — although they entered the Club World Cup break on a high, beating Yokohama 2-1.
As with many pairings in this tournament, River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds will be facing each other for the first time. Despite their struggles, Marcelo Gallardo’s side has greater experience and depth. We expect the Argentine giants to claim a win over the Japanese club.
Prediction for the match: River Plate to win.
