Urawa Red take on the visitors Monterrey in the round 3 match of FIFA Club World Cup. The match will be played on Thursday, June 26th at Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA).
Urawa Red Diamonds are effectively out of the tournament. With two losses from two matches, the Japanese side has been officially eliminated from the Club World Cup. This harsh reality completely defines their approach going into the final group game. First came a 1-3 defeat to River Plate, followed by an agonizing 1-2 loss to Inter, where the decisive goal was conceded in stoppage time — the 92nd minute. Two games, two defeats, zero points — Urawa’s journey ends here. Korean media summed it up bluntly: "The wall of world football turned out to be too high for both Urawa and Ulsan." The match against Inter was particularly telling. Urawa even managed to take the lead, but the stats speak volumes. Just 18% possession versus Inter’s overwhelming 82%. Shots? Five for the Japanese side against a staggering 26 for the Italians. Expected goals (xG) clearly reflect the same story: 0.45 for Urawa compared to Inter’s 2.25. Even with a lead, Urawa couldn't hold out, once again exposing their inability to stay organized under sustained pressure. Recent performances in the J-League also indicate defensive vulnerabilities against technically superior opposition.
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Monterrey approaches this match with everything on the line. Unlike Urawa, the Mexican side still has a real chance of qualifying for the knockout stage. With two hard-fought draws from two matches, they know that victory here sends them through. Their results against the same opponents tell a completely different story. Against mighty Inter, Monterrey secured a 1-1 draw — with none other than Sergio Ramos getting on the scoresheet. Then came an almost flawless defensive performance against River Plate, holding the Argentine giants to a 0-0 draw. River had 18 shots, including 6 on target, but Esteban Andrada and his defensive line — led by Ramos — stood tall. This speaks to Monterrey’s exceptional tactical discipline and defensive organization. Monterrey has now gone five consecutive matches across competitions without defeat — a clear indication of their growing momentum. This is a squad packed with proven quality. Sergio Ramos, Sergio Canales, and Lucas Ocampos bring decades of experience from Europe’s elite competitions. Torrent has also emphasized how thoroughly they’ve scouted Urawa, studying at least six of their recent games, including domestic league fixtures. This preparation shows Monterrey’s serious intent — they are not underestimating anyone.
On one side, there’s Urawa — a team already eliminated after two defeats, showing glimpses of attacking threat but utterly incapable of managing games against top-level opposition. Their collapse against Inter, despite an early lead, with just 18% possession and being outshot 5 to 26, perfectly illustrates the gulf in class. On the other, there’s Monterrey — a side that has taken points off both Inter (1-1) and River Plate (0-0). They’ve shown tactical maturity, patience, and resilience. With seasoned leaders like Sergio Ramos marshalling the defense and a clear win-or-go-home scenario, the Mexican side simply has more quality, experience, and motivation.
Prediction for the match: Monterrey to win.
