Among the South American clubs in the Club World Cup, River Plate are one of the “dark horses” that could surprise. Unbeaten in their last 17 matches across all competitions—with nine wins and eight draws—Los Millonarios come into the tournament after a strong group stage campaign in the Libertadores and a quarterfinal exit in the Apertura Tournament.

Marcelo Gallardo’s playing style is dynamic and high in attacking intensity. His top attacking players are all available, including the front three of Franco Mastantuono, Sebastián Driussi, and Facundo Colidio, who have scored 19 of the team’s 40 goals this season.

River Plate should be competitive and are fighting for the group’s second qualifying spot, with Inter and Monterrey also in the group. Their opponents in the opener are a traditional name in Japanese and Asian football, but one going through an inconsistent phase. After winning the 2022 AFC Champions League, Urawa Reds have had an up-and-down 2024 campaign. They sit 4th in the J1 League with nine wins, seven draws, and five losses, scoring 26 and conceding 20.

With a stronger squad, international experience, and considering the odds for a win, backing River Plate in this matchup appears to be a safe bet.

Urawa Reds rely on quicker transitions and a more vertical style. Coach Maciej Skorża aims for a well-organized defense and builds attacks from high pressing and fast breaks.

Overall, the system has worked well. They are among the top shooting sides in the J1 League, averaging 11.5 shots per game and hitting the target four times on average. They hit 3+ shots on target in four of their last five games. Brazilian forward Thiago Santana, who averages 1.5 shots on target per match, is their standout in this regard.

At 25, Facundo Colidio has been River Plate’s most consistent player this season. Usually playing on the left, the No. 11 has scored three goals in his last six appearances. He has six goals in total this season and is the team’s second top scorer.

Highlighting his goal tally also reinforces his consistency in shooting and accuracy. In the Apertura, Colidio took 27 shots and hit the target ten times, averaging 2.7 and 1.0 per 90 minutes, respectively. In the Libertadores, he leads the team in this stat with a 1.7 average, the 6th-best in the entire tournament.

He’s hit the target at least once in four of his last five matches. Considering the low threshold of just one shot on target, this market offers solid value for Colidio.

Colidio’s strike partner, Sebastián Driussi, is another name that could shine for River Plate. At 29, in his first season back in Buenos Aires, Driussi is a versatile weapon in Gallardo’s tactical setup.

He can operate on the left flank, looking for spaces to shoot or in a central attacking midfield role. With strong finishing ability, Driussi is a good option to register at least 3 shots in this game.

He managed that in two of his last three appearances, with three shots each against Universitario and Independiente del Valle, both in the Libertadores, a competition with higher technical and physical demands. He’s averaging 2.9 shots per 90 minutes in the Libertadores and 2.7 in the Apertura.

Urawa Reds’ inconsistency is partly explained by the volume of shots they concede. They rank 4th for most shots allowed in the J1 League, averaging 12 per match.

With River expected to control possession and maintain their successful tactical model, Driussi should continue creating chances, either cutting in from the left or arriving late into the box.