The Club World Cup QFs has arrived and the last eight draw is intriguingly poised with every European ‘heavyweight’ qualified bar Atletico Madrid, as well as all four Brazilian sides.
Clubs from the land of joga bonito feature heavily in our last eight selections, with one of the recommended wagers plucked straight from the domestic form book.
Club World Cup QFs: Underdogs have head-to-head edge in all-Brazil battle
It’s surprising to see Palmeiras the 13/10 match-betting favourites and Botafogo 23/10 underdogs for their all-Brazilian quarter-final given their recent head-to-head record.
Botafogo won three of their four meetings last term on the way to winning the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Copa Libertadores. The other was a draw, as was their sole tussle this term.
They also qualified with more points (six to their opponents’ five) from a section including Paris Saint-Germain, whom they beat, and Atletico Madrid. Palmeiras needed two late goals against Inter Miami to avoid ceding top spot to the American side in Group A.
Botafogo are available at north of even money to qualify, which seems decent value given they’ve not lost to their Sao-Paolo-based foes.
Botafogo to qualify vs Palmeiras
@ 23/20
Club World Cup QFs: Unders on our mind for Georgia-hosted last eight tie
Backing under 2.5 goals at Evens in Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey may not seem that intuitive considering the German side’s three group games produced eight goals.
However, all bar one of those came in their ding-dong 4-3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns. On the evidence of a 0-0 draw with Fluminense and a 1-0 success of Ulsan HD they will struggle to get too much change out of a Monterrey defence marshalled by decorated veteran Sergio Ramos.
The Mexican side scored five times in the group stage, but just like Dortmund, four of those came in one game (against Urawa Red Diamonds). Their other fixtures in the mini leagues were a 0-0 draw with River Plate and a 1-1 draw with Inter Milan.
Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey - Under 2.5 goals
@ 1/1
Club World Cup QFs: Form points to Inter vs Fluminense half-time equilibrium
Inter have been slow starters so far in this competition, falling behind in each of their first two games and failing to break the deadlock until the 72nd minute last time out.
Two of their three group games were level at half-time and the 11/10 about honours being even at the midway point once again in their quarter final looks a decent bet given they’re playing a side with similar form.
Fluminense drew two of their Group F games 0-0 (against Dortmund and Mamelodi Sundowns), and were behind at the interval in the other before coming back to beat Ulsan 4-3.
Inter vs Fluminense - First half draw
@ 11/10
More from Betzone News, here.
