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Wydad Casablanca vs Al Ain match preview: Casablanca aiming to finish with a victory

Wydad Casablanca vs Al Ain match preview: Casablanca aiming to finish with a victory

Not surprisingly, Wydad Casablanca and Al Ain have struggled in Group G, with both teams conceding six and 11 goals in their matches against Manchester City and Juventus.

Having already been knocked out, they will now play for pride when they meet at Audi Field in Washington DC on Thursday evening.

It's difficult to have confidence in either team, as they both performed poorly in their first matches, but Wydad are slightly favored as they showed a bit more threat compared to their Asian opponents.

Team news

Ayoub Boucheta and Renan Viana were left out of Wydad's Club World Cup squad, but they have no new injury worries.

With nothing to play for, manager Mohamed Amine Benhachem might choose to start young forward Selemen Mwalimu ahead of the struggling Samuel Obeng.

Al Ain have no injury concerns, but Vladimir Ivic may make changes to the starting XI following heavy 5-0 and 6-0 losses.

Kodjo Laba and Kaku, two key attacking players, were on the bench against City but could return to the lineup.

The stats

Vladimir Ivic's team Al Ain has been facing challenges at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Vladimir Ivic's team Al Ain has been facing challenges at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Al Ain managed only 0.97 expected goals in their first two FIFA Club World Cup matches.

On the other hand, Wydad collected 1.68 expected goals in their opening games, with 1.18 against Juventus.

Casablanca ended their league season with a 14-game unbeaten streak.

Al Ain have seen both teams score in just one of their last nine matches.

Seven of the 11 goals conceded by the UAE team in the CWC were in the first half.

Wydad's Thembinkosi Lorch is the sole scorer in the Club World Cup for both teams.

Prediction

Despite both teams being point-less after two games, Wydad showed slightly more promise than Al Ain against top European clubs.

The Casablanca side scored against Juventus and had 1.18 expected goals in that game. They also managed to limit City to a 2-0 defeat, while Al Ain had a tough time in the US.

Al Ain suffered a heavy 5-0 loss to Juve in their first match and then another loss to City without scoring.

They registered only 0.97 expected goals in those games, less than Wydad managed against Juventus alone. Therefore, they are considered the weaker team in this battle for pride in Washington D.C.