Saturday action the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup sees Mamelodi Sundowns attempt to secure passage into the knockout phase if they upset Borussia Dortmund, while River Plate could do the same with a win over Monterrey Rayados. Here is your look at all the action.
Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds
(Saturday in Seattle)
Inter Milan looked listless against Monterrey in their opening match, Lautaro Martinez scored off a free kick, but they couldn’t convert their other chances in the heat and had to settle for a highly competitive draw with the Mexican side from the mountains. Urawa Red Diamonds were well composed for periods against River Plate, but they were beaten on quality and fell 3-1. The scoreline was worse than Urawa’s performance, they generated pressure and could have scored a second goal. Inter Milan will want to avoid an embarrassing tournament though and should lock in to move to 4 points in the group. Prediction: Inter Milan 3 Urawa Red Diamonds 1
River Plate vs Monterrey
(Saturday in Los Angeles)
Like the Libertadores clashes of yesteryear, a Mexican side that features a number of Argentines in the squad, will take on Argentina’s River Plate, after both sides came away satisfied on matchday 1. River Plate secured three points against Urawa, while Monterrey Rayados secured the biggest draw in club history. Sergio Ramos first half header put them up on Inter Milan, and they avoided conceding in the second half, playing a high line offside trap that negated Inter’s attack. Argentine Esteban Andrada was composed in goal for Rayados. and in front of a partisan Mexican crowd, in hot temperatures that they are used to in their home state of Nuevo Leon, the Rayados backline was impressive, with Stefan Medina from Colombia, Victor Guzman, and Gerardo Arteaga pairing with the captain Ramos to put together the best defensive performance of the 2025 season for the squad.
River Plate’s Maxi Meza is a former Rayados player, while Corcho Rodriguez and winger Lucas Ocampos are Argentines in the Rayados starting lineup (along with Andrada, and naturalized Mexican German Berterame). Monterrey’s performance was impressive, and River’s forward line is still a bit lacking, Sergio Canales and Nelson Deossa were attacking threats for Rayados, and this match feels like it’s going to be an attritional draw, with perhaps a late winner creating magic. Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Borussia Dortmund
(Saturday in Cincinnati)
Iqraam Rayners was the goalscorer as South African side Mamelodi Sundowns took the 3 points from the clash against Ulsan. It’s improbable, but a win over Dortmund would secure passage to the knockout phase, even a draw would go a long way towards passage. Dortmund were poor in a scoreless draw with Fluminense, outplayed and dependent on high quality goalkeeping, they were lucky to avoid being the first UEFA team to suffer a defeat in the tournament in a cross Confederation matchup. Despite playing with so little confidence, it still feels unlikely Dortmund will slip up twice in a row. Prediction: Dortmund 2 Sundowns 0
Fluminense vs Ulsan HD
(Saturday in New York City)
Ulsan HD needs to upset Fluminense to put themselves in a credible position of advancing to the knockout phase. Colombian Jhon Arias was the star as Fluminense peppered their German opposition with 14 shots, though they couldn’t manage to score. Fluminense’s impressive first match performance builds momentum for this game. They look set to lock in the 3 points and move towards qualification. Prediction: Fluminense 3 Ulsan HD 1
Main Photo Credit: Copyright: xJONATHANxDUENASx
