Al-Hilal welcome already-eliminated Pachuca

Needing victory to have any hope of reaching the last 16, Al-Hilal will meet already-eliminated Pachuca in their final group game at the Club World Cup.

Real Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg lead the way by two points coming into Thursday’s Group H finale, but Simone Inzaghi‘s side could still squeeze through with a win in Nashville.

Sunday’s goalless stalemate with Salzburg left Al-Hilal with a sense of frustration, having previously held mighty Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw.

Dreams of making the Club World Cup’s knockout phase took a hit in Washington DC, where they dominated possession but struggled to break through the Austrian team’s defence amid sweltering conditions.

So, the Saudi side are relying on a final-day win to escape Group H and reach the last 16 – and even that may not prove enough.

If Al-Hilal beat Pachuca, the winners of Salzburg vs Real Madrid would top the group with the losers knocked out, but a draw between Salzburg and Real would leave all three sides level on points.

As Inzaghi’s men have a goal difference deficit, and goals scored and conceded against Pachuca would not count, they could still crash out if they win and the other game ends all square.

Unbeaten in seven matches since losing to Al-Ahli in the AFC Champions League semi-finals, Al-Hilal at least know that victory gives them a chance, and much may rest on whether injured striker Aleksandar Mitrovic can return.

Al-Hilal may still be missing former Fulham man Aleksandar Mitrovic, who sat out both of their first two games with a calf problem, so Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo should continue to deputise.

Previously with Santos and Benfica, the latter has scored 25 goals in 40 appearances for the Riyadh club since joining last year, but he has yet to find the net in Group H.

Simone Inzaghi, who has been boosted by news that Nasser Al-Dawsari will recover from a minor muscle strain, should stick with a familiar starting XI; so Malcom, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and captain Salem Al-Dawsari are all set to to feature in Leonardo’s supporting cast.

Al-Hilal will be fully motivated to get the win, while Pachuca are inevitably eyeing the exit door, so the Saudi Pro-League side are more likely to prevail.

With a stronger squad, Simone Inzaghi and co can claim a first victory at this year’s Club World Cup – but it remains to be seen whether that will take them through.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Red Bull Salzburg square off with Real Madrid

Seeking to secure their spots in the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup, Red Bull Salzburg and Real Madrid square off in an all-European Group H contest at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Friday (BST).

Both teams sit level on four points and are looking to secure top spot in the group, with Los Blancos currently boasting a slight advantage courtesy of goals difference.

Los Blancos, five-time winners of the Club World Cup, can afford to draw against Salzburg to finish in the top two, but they would miss out on top spot if the spoils are shared on matchday three and Al-Hilal, who currently sit two points further back in third, claim all three points against Pachuca to climb to the summit.

Alonso is set to make a late call on the fitness of star forward Kylian Mbappe, who has missed the opening two group games with a bout of gastroenteritis. Antonio Rudiger is the most likely candidate to replace Asencio and start in central defence alongside summer signing Dean Huijsen, while fellow new recruit Trent Alexander-Arnold will be hoping to retain his place at right-back.

Real Madrid will be regarded as firm favourites to outscore their Austrian opponents and claim all three points, especially if Mbappe is back fit and firing.

Credit: .sportsmole.co.uk

Uefa to decide Palace’s Europa League fate on today

Uefa executives will meet on Friday to decide whether Crystal Palace will be allowed to play in next season’s Europa League.

The Eagles won the FA Cup to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history but Uefa must decide if they have breached its multi-club ownership rules.

The expectation is that the outcome of the hearing will be announced by Friday evening.

On Monday it was announced New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has signed a “legally binding contract” to buy John Textor’s 43% stake in Crystal Palace in a deal believed to be worth close to £190m.

Palace are under threat of losing their spot in Europe on the basis of Textor’s involvement at the club.

Uefa has been considering whether Palace breached its multi-club ownership rules which bars linked clubs from competing in the same European competition.

Textor has a stake in French club Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League.

Palace insisted Textor has no significant control at Palace despite his shareholding at the club.

There was a further twist this week when Lyon suffered relegation into Ligue 2 because of their poor financial state, which could prevent the French side from playing in Europe altogether.

Credit: bbc

Arsenal in talks to sign Valencia defender Mosquera

Arsenal are in talks to sign defender Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia.

The Gunners want to make a defensive signing this summer and the 20-year-old Spaniard, who can play at centre-back and right-back, is emerging as their favoured option.

Arsenal have shown interest in Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace, but the England international may be reluctant to join given that he may find opportunities limited behind Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.

Spain Under-21 international Mosquera has made 90 appearances for Valencia and was a regular in the team last season, playing 90 minutes in 37 of the club’s 38 La Liga games.

It has been a busy 24 hours for Arsenal, who are also on the verge of completing a move for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard.

A fee worth up to £15million has been agreed and the Denmark international is set to undergo a medical.

Arsenal are also imminently expected to complete the signing of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly signed a five-year deal at Emirates Stadium on Thursday.

The full-back made 39 appearances for Arsenal last season as he established himself as a regular in Mikel Arteta’s side.

Fellow defender Gabriel also signed a long-term contract earlier this month.

Credit: bbc