Monday was a day of upsets in the FIFA Club World Cup knockout stage. First, Inter Milan was knocked out by Brazilian side Fluminense. Then, in the night game, Al Hilal dramatically upset Manchester City. Borussia Dortmund will be hoping to buck the trend against Monterrey on Tuesday.
The German side has been in good form. Unbeaten in 10 matches, Dortmund walked through a subpar Group F to advance to the knockout rounds. While they haven’t been at their best in the Bundesliga this year, they have a veteran squad that takes care of business.
Monterrey is not to be trifled with either. They managed an undefeated group stage, including a stunning draw against Inter Milan. This group can park the bus well and make life uncomfortable for superior opposing sides. Despite the massive gap in talent and name recognition, they have decent enough odds to win this one, and the right personnel to pull a rock fight upset.
Borussia Dortmund is favored at -115 on the moneyline for this contest on DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s dig into a prediction, pick and best bet for this match.
Prediction for Dortmund vs. Monterrey
Dortmund is favored for a reason. They play in the better league, have a strong cast of players, and have been in good form. Even if the Monterrey side looks scrappy and competent, they’re well-positioned to win this one.
But this game could be a lot uglier than most would expect. Dortmund isn’t a very explosive club these days. They prefer to hold deep and dominate in possession while trying to pick holes in the opposing defense. That should work against this Monterrey team, but it won’t be some free-flowing butt-kicking where they rack up three or four goals. That gives Monterrey a chance to hang around and wait for one or two key chances to flip this game.
Pick for Dortmund vs. Monterrey
Borussia Dortmund Moneyline (-115)
Dortmund’s moneyline has fallen steadily since yesterday. Less than 24 hours ago, it was at -155 and not worth anything. Now I am interested in the value here.
It’s possible that they’re removing some players from the lineup. But this team still has good depth, and even a B-side squad is better than Monterrey. Dortmund prides itself on young talent; some of those guys playing could be good. It also gives us extra value on the moneyline. I’ll take the better side on the discounted price and not think twice.
