Group B could hold the key
The highly controversial FIFA Club World Cup begins on June 14th in the USA with 32 teams set to battle it out for a winners prize of over €100 million. While the rewards for the competing clubs are great, there has been major criticism from players unions over fear of burnout for the on-field stars.
PSG put on one of the greatest European Cup final performances ever seen on Saturday night in Munich but the Parisians have been left with little time to celebrate their maiden Champions League crown with their FCWC opener against Atletico Madrid coming just 15 days on from their trouncing of Inter Milan.
The old edition of this competition was dominated by European teams with UEFA affiliated sides winning 16 FCWC titles. South America was the only other continent to provide FCWC winners with four CONMEBOL teams triumphing since the competition was founded in 2000.
Naturally, your eye has to be drawn to PSG given those stats and given how impressive they were in Saturday’s UCL Final. They also have a very young squad which may help them battle fatigue while they coasted to league and cup success in France so may still have more in the tank.
PSG find themselves in a tough group however, with Atletico Madrid, Botafago (Brazil) and Seattle Sounders. A reminder of the competition format, it’s essentially the same as the international World Cup with the top two in each group advancing to the knockout stages.
Atletico Madrid defeated PSG during the league phase of the Champions League last year and will undoubtably relish the chance to take the newly crowned champions of Europe down a peg or two while Botafago won last year’s Copa Libertadores, South America’s equivalent of the Champions League.
The Brazilian club have even been linked with Cristiano Ronaldo in the build up to this tournament so they are a big club in their own right. Having won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2022, Seattle qualified for this competition and will play all three of their games at their home ground.
With all of those factors in mind, it may pay to back against PSG topping group B.
BEST BET: Atletico Madrid to top Group B (11/8)
POTENTIAL PATHS TO FINAL
Should Group B plan out as predicted with PSG finishing second, they would take on the winners of Group A, most likely to be Porto. A potential quarter final with Bayern Munich may then follow with Manchester City a possible semi-final opponent.
On the other side of the bracket, Real Madrid (Group H) could meet Juventus (Group G) in the last 16 with the Italians being drawn in a group with Manchester City. Borussia Dortmund had a very poor league season in Germany but should they manage to top their group which does contain Brazilian giants Fluminense then the Germans may clash with Real Madrid in the last eight.
If my prediction regarding Atletico Madrid winning Group B is correct then Palmerias are a likely knockout stage opponent. Chelsea (Group D) could clash with the Spaniards in the quarters. Should Diego Simone’s men overcome the recent Conference League winners a mouthwatering Madrid derby could be on the cards in the semis.
PSG and Real Madrid looks a possible final with the French champions 4/1 to reach the showpiece while Madrid are 15/8 to make the final.
Even if I’m wrong and PSG win their group as the markets suggest, I would still fancy them to go close and they could even end the tournament as they started it with a game against Atletico. The Spaniards are 6/1 to reach the final.
BEST BET: Winning group – Group B (9/2)
STAGE OF ELIMINATION MARKETS
Whether it’s PSG or Atletico who top Group B, the betting markets suggest Porto will play one of the two as Group A winners. Porto endured a below par season in Portugal finishing a remote third so are no sure things to top a group containing Palmeiras (Brazil), Al Ahly (Eygpt) and Leo Messi’s Inter Miami.
You’d still hope Porto’s European pedigree will see them through the group and they will still meet either PSG or Atletico if they finish second in group A so a bet on the Portuguese team to exit the competition at the last 16 stage could be worthwhile at 8/5.
BEST BET: Porto last 16 elimination (8/5)
OUTRIGHT SELECTION: PSG (6/1)