Wydad AC vs. Al-Ain: Club World Cup Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

The last Club World Cup match between Wydad AC and Al-Ain will be played on Thursday, and both teams will be playing for dignity after being eliminated with one game to spare.

Only third place will be at stake in Washington, D.C., since neither Juventus nor Manchester City has managed to pick up a point in Group G.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Wydad are still seeking their first Club World Cup victory after losing their first two matches of the season. They have one draw and four losses under their belts thus far.

They have participated in the USA-hosted tournament for the last three years, and this year will be their third consecutive year. They were first invited after winning the CAF Champions League three years ago.

Although the Casablanca club has an impressive 22 national trophies under its belt, the most recent being Morocco's premier league in 2022, it has once again shown that it is unable to make a significant impact outside of Africa.

Two magical moments from Kenan Yildiz were the deciding factors in Wydad's 4-1 loss to Juventus on Sunday after a 2-0 loss to Man City in their first match.

Amine Benhachem's squad has little to celebrate as they head out of the tournament, despite Thembinkosi Lorch scoring the first goal for a Moroccan team against European opponents since 2000.

Wydad would like to end on a high note with a historic victory, but a draw would still be enough to secure a spot outside the relegation zone in Group G, thanks to their goal differential lead over Al-Ain.

Al-Ain is also planning to depart the United States after their most recent performance in FIFA's premier club event, in which they conceded six goals, continuing their catastrophic streak.

After losing 6-0 to Premier League powerhouses Manchester City, the Emirati side now has more goals conceded than any other team, with the exception of amateur side Auckland City.

Head coach Vladimir Ivic has seen his team give up goals in 11 of their 18 attempts since the loss in Atlanta, which came shortly after Juventus scored five. 

They may have come to the United States on a seven-match winning run with six shutouts, but the 14-time UAE champions and 2024 AFC Champions League winners have still struggled to find their footing.

Since their last Club World Cup effort, Al-Ain has suffered a three-game losing streak with an aggregate score of 0-14; on Thursday, they will be looking to redeem themselves.

Wydad AC x Al-Ain Team News

The leader of Wydad's onslaught will most likely be Samuel Obeng or Cassius Mailula, but they may face serious challenges from all directions.

In the match against Juventus, veteran winger Nordin Amrabat had five good opportunities, while in the game against Man City, South African attacker Thembinkosi Lorch scored after taking three shots. 

Mohamed Rayhi, who scored eleven goals in Morocco's premier division last season, might be called up from the bench by Amine Benhachem if he decides to change up his starting lineup.

Meanwhile, after Al-Ain's crushing opening defeat, coach Vladimir Ivic attempted a slew of adjustments, but they didn't help.

Although Kaku, Kouame Autonne, and Rui Patricio, a former goalkeeper for Portugal, are all eligible to return, the starting lineup for the offense is already decided.

Up up, we have Soufiane Rahimi, a Moroccan striker who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 Paris Olympics and was named Most Valuable Player in the 2024 AFC Champions League.  Despite making three appearances in the Club World Cup, he has taken only one shot on goal and scored no goals.

Our predictions

Wydad to win @ 2.44 on Sky247.ng

Although their European opponents have been superior, Wydad should still be able to defeat ailing Al-Ain because of their superior strategy.

With nothing riding on the outcome of the match in Washington, DC, the African team has a chance to beat their Asian opponents and take third place in Group G.

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