Verdict: Real Madrid & Both Teams to Score
Best Odds: 8/5
Bookmaker: bet365
Defending European champions begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign amidst what’s been a turbulent spell for Los Blancos. Plenty has changed since Spanish super force last played the Japanese side in the final of this competition in 2016 and it will be extremely interesting to see how Santiago Solari’s men will fare against the Asian Champions League winners.
Kashima Antlers
The Japanese giants Kashima Antlers beat Mexican heavyweights CD Guadalajara 3-2 in the United Arab Emirates to set up a semi-final clash against Real Madrid. The Antlers came back from going a goal down early on in the game through Ryota Nagaki and went on to complete a full comeback courtesy of Serginho and Hiroki Abe.
Kashima Antlers are now getting ready to lock horns with the Champions League winners in what will be a repeat of the 2016 Club World Cup final, which the Spanish super force won 4-2 after extra time. The Japanese are heading into this year’s final well aware their rivals are a far cry from a team that denied them of global fame two years ago. It had been a tantalizing final two years ago. Locked in a 2-2 stalemate at the 90-minute mark, Kashima Antlers ultimately lost the match to Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time brace. The Portuguese is no longer here to trouble the Japanese and they will relish the opportunity to get one back against Los Blancos.
Team News
The Japanese side is not expected to make any changes to the side that beat Guadalajara in the previous round of the competition.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid will relish the opportunity to take a break away from the European spotlight and what’s been a difficult spell for the reigning European champions. Los Blancos have gone through a lot since they last competed in FIFA’s prestigious club competition a year ago and it will be interesting to see how they will fare against the Asian Champions League winners.
The Madrid-based heavyweights are two matches away from making it a hat-trick of Club World Cup trophies and are eager to finish 2018 with a trophy in their hands. It would be the first one for Santiago Solari who seems to be doing a good job at Real Madrid’s helm despite the daily pressure and scrutiny. His men suffered a comprehensive 3-0 home loss in the final round of the Champions League group stage to CSKA Moscow but returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano last time out. They will lack no motivation heading into the Club World Cup and a trophy here might as well be all the motivation Real Madrid need to once again be their former selves despite losing their biggest star – Cristiano Ronaldo – to Juventus this summer.
Team News
Santiago Solari could opt to shuffle his deck a bit against Kashima Antlers. Vinicius Jr is expected to be given a starting berth, together with Marcos Llorente and Dani Ceballos.
Karim Benzema scored his first goal in last six matches this weekend and could once again be given a chance to lead the Real Madrid attack from the off.
Key Factors to Consider
- Kashima Antlers won 6 of their last 10 matches in all competitions
- The Japanese side met Real Madrid in the Club World Cup final in 2018
- Six goals were scored in 120 minutes of the last match between these two rivals
- Real Madrid are aiming to their third successive title in the competition
- Los Blancos failed to draw any of their last 16 competitive fixtures
Conclusion
Despite the apparent difference in form compared to 2016, Real Madrid are still a much more quality laden side compared to their Japanese rivals. Both teams will lack no motivation to prove themselves as the global stage and we should be in for a sensationally contested game with goals on both ends.
Verdict: Real Madrid & Both Teams to Score
Best Odds: 8/5
Bookmaker: bet365
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