Urawa Red Diamonds vs Monterrey

Monterrey, vying for a top-two spot in Group E of the Club World Cup, faces off against the already-eliminated Urawa Red Diamonds on Thursday morning.

Sitting at the bottom of the group with no points from two matches, Urawa have struggled, while Monterrey need a win to lock in a top-two finish on the final matchday.

Urawa Red Diamonds entered the tournament with inconsistent form, managing just two wins, three draws, and two losses in their last seven J1 League games. Placed in a tough group with Inter Milan, River Plate, and Monterrey, they were expected to finish last, a prediction that’s holding true.

The Red Devils lost 3-1 to River Plate in their opener and suffered a gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan, where they led until a 78th-minute equalizer and a 92nd-minute winner by Valentin Carboni sealed their fate. With zero points, Urawa are out but will aim to end the tournament on a high note under manager Maciej Skorza, especially with a £1.5m prize for each victory.

Monterrey, led by Domenec Torrent, are chasing a crucial win to advance to the knockout stages. Despite being seen as underdogs behind River Plate and Inter Milan, their two draws in the group stage keep them in contention. Trailing the top two by two points, Monterrey can secure progression with a victory, especially since River Plate and Inter Milan face each other. A win for either of those teams, combined with a Monterrey victory, would likely see the Mexican side through on points. Even a draw between the top two would allow Monterrey to advance if they outscore them.

After a solid defensive display against Inter Milan, Urawa’s Skorza may stick with a similar backline. Wingers Ryoma Watanabe and Takuro Kaneko, who linked up well for Urawa’s goal last match, are likely to start.

For Monterrey, Jorge Rodriguez’s suspension due to yellow card accumulation means Nelson Deossa could pair with Oliver Torres in midfield. Sergio Ramos, who scored Monterrey’s only group-stage goal, will again lead the defense as captain.