Al Hilal vs Pachuca Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Group Stage
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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Al Hilal have been impressive to watch but must win their final group stage game to stand a chance of going through as they take on Mexican outfit Pachuca this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN / US – DAZN
Al Hilal team news: Marcos Leonardo a doubt
Former Benfica attacker Marcos Leonardo picked up an injury in May that was expected to see him unavailable until mid-August but he has started both games thus far, albeit it has to be said hasn’t seemed fully fit.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Bono; Cancelo, Tambakti, Koulibaly, Renan Lodi; Neves, N. Al Dawsari; Malcom, Milinkovic-Savic, S. Al Dawsari; Marcos Leonardo
Unavailable:
Questionable: Marcos Leonardo (Injured)
Pachuca team news: Fully fit
Ahead of their final group stage clash with Al Hilal this week, Liga MX giants Pachuca have no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Carlos Moreno; Luis Rodriguez, Bauermann, Facundo Pereira, Bryan Gonzalez; Elias Montiel, Palavecino; Alexei Dominguez, Alan Bautista, Kenedy; Salomon Rondon
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Key stats
- This is the first FIFA competition match between these teams.
- Al Hilal’s previous FIFA encounter with a Mexican club was against Monterrey when they lost 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out defeat after a 2-2 draw in the match for third place at the competition now known as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in December 2019.
- Al Hilal have lost only one of their last five FIFA competition matches (W1 D3 L1).
- Al Hilal have lost only one of their last 12 outings in all competitions (W6 D5 L1) and are now unbeaten in seven (W4 D3 L0).
- This is Pachuca’s first FIFA competition match against a Saudi Arabian team.
- Pachuca have lost their last three matches in FIFA competitions.
- Al Hilal’s Yassine Bounou and Pachuca’s Oussama Idrissi have played together for Morocco’s national team and were also team-mates at Spanish club Sevilla.
- Al Hilal’s Marcos Leonardo and Pachuca’s Eduadro Bauermann were team-mates at Brazilian club Santos in 2022 and 2023.
- Al Hilal captain Salem Al Dawsari scored Saudi Arabia’s late consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat by Mexico at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- Ah Hilal’s Sergej Milinković-Savić was on the winning side against Pachuca’s Víctor Guzmán in Serbia’s 2-0 victory against Mexico in the group stage of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Milinković-Savić went on to win the tournament with his country.
Al Hilal vs Pachuca prediction
Following a disappointing season, Al Hilal parted company with Jorge Jesus a few weeks ago, replacing him with Internazionale boss Simone Inzaghi. Al Hilal began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid in a game in which they were the better side before a goalless draw with Red Bull Salzburg.
They now face a Pachuca side that have underwhelmed at the start of the FIFA Club World Cup group stage campaign. The Mexicans started the tournament with a defeat to Red Bull Salzburg in their opener before they then suffered a 3-1 loss to the aforementioned Madrid.
Al Hilal will fancy their chances of finally getting themselves over the line with an impressive style of football so siding with the Saudi Arabians looks the way to go.
Al Hilal vs Pachuca tip: Al Hilal to win
