PSG were arguably the best attacking side in Europe during the 24/25 season, only really matched in terms of numbers by Barcelona. They netted 92 goals across the Ligue 1 season (2.70 per game) which is a total that suggests they can disrupt Atletico Madrid early on here. 

PSG scored 21 first half goals across their 17 Ligue 1 games during the 24/25 season (1.09 per game). We saw how fast they can start in their recent Champions League final victory over Inter Milan in which they scored twice within the first 20 minutes to establish a commanding lead over Simone Inzaghi’s side, they would go on to add three goals to that tally in the most emphatic Champions League final win in recent history.

PSG scored after just 14 minutes when these sides met in the league phase of the Champions League, and that meeting was before Luis Enrique revolutionised the side with the organisation and off-the-ball structure complementing the attacking flair of the side, a balance that PSG had struggled to find in recent seasons. PSG are one of the favourites for the tournament and should start as they mean to go on in their first game at the Club World Cup.

Palmeiras haven’t been the most free-scoring so far in Brazil Serie A this season with just 12 goals across their 11 matches, but they can be expected to liven up in this tournament, seeing as they scored 60 goals across their 38 games in Serie A last season (1.57 per 90).

They will feel as if they have a chance of qualifying, if not topping this group, seeing as Porto aren’t at the level of some of the other European heavyweights that Palmeiras could have been drawn against. This should encourage them to make a fast start in their opening game at the Club World Cup. 

Porto haven’t enjoyed the best season, finishing 3rd in Liga Portugal behind Sporting and Benfica. They also finished 18th in the league phase of the Europa League, eventually being knocked out by Roma in the round of 32. Palmeiras can add further misery to Porto’s campaign, with the Portuguese side needing a real lift in spirit if they are to go deep in this tournament. 

Bayern Munich are heavy favourites to come out on top in their first Club World Cup game of the campaign against National League champions from New Zealand, Auckland City. Vincent Kompany's side certainly have the firepower to warrant backing them to go deep in this competition, but their backline and inconsistent defensive structure still leaves plenty of questions for the German giants.

Bayern Munich can score goals for fun, they scored 99 goals in the Bundesliga during the 24/25 season (2.91 per game) which was unsurprisingly the most of any side in the German top-flight last term. They scored 22 goals in the first half in the Bundesliga last term, with 71% of their matches seeing Bayern Munich score in the first half - few sides in Europe can match this tally, which makes particularly worrying reading for Auckland here.

41% of Bayern’s total goals in the Bundesliga came in the first half during the 24/25 season. They’ll see this as an opportunity to make a strong start to the tournament, which they hope will give them momentum for the rest of the competition. The task for Auckland here will be keeping the score down to ensure that their confidence isn’t shot to pieces after the first game.