It is already potentially last chance saloon territory for Los Angeles FC and Esperance de Tunis, who face off in Club World Cup Group D on Friday knowing a defeat for either could result in their elimination.
Los Angeles started their campaign against Premier League Chelsea and performed well in spells despite suffering a 2-0 defeat.
The MLS side will be hoping for a more positive outcome against the Tunisian champions, who were beaten 2-0 by Brazilian top-flight leaders Flamengo in their opener.
Market | Tip | Odds |
Match Result | Los Angeles FC | |
Best Bet | Los Angeles FC | |
Bet Builder | Denis Bouanga to score at any time, Over 3 goals, Youcef Belaili to be booked |
Best Bet: Los Angeles FC to win @ 5/6
Los Angeles FC were the last team to book their ticket to the Club World Cup, but they are determined to hang around beyond the group phase and can put their first three points on the board by defeating Esperance de Tunis at Geodis Park in Nashville.
Steve Cherundolo’s side could have no complaints about their 2-0 loss to Chelsea, although they carried a threat and registered four shots on target.
And they should get many more opportunities to attack against Esperance de Tunis in a game which could signal elimination for the losing side.
Both teams are on zero points but there seems less room for optimism for the North Africans, who were beaten 2-0 by Flamengo on Monday and didn’t manage an effort on target until the 67th minute.
The Tunisian champions lost two of 30 games in their domestic title race but they look out of their depth at the Club World Cup and may struggle to avoid a second successive defeat.
Dan Childs explains:
Los Angeles FC were far from disgraced in their 2-0 loss to Chelsea and should notice a significant drop in class against Esperance de Tunis, who have posted just one win in seven Club World Cup matches.
Pays 11/1
MLS spectators will be well aware of the quality of Los Angeles FC striker Denis Bouanga, who racked up 20 goals in each of the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
Bouanga didn’t get much of a look in when facing Chelsea but he can find the net against Esperance de Tunis in what promises to be an entertaining, high-scoring encounter.
Both sides are likely to be fully committed and there should be plenty of aggression from Esperance’s Algerian winger Youcef Belaili, who has been yellow carded in two of his last four club appearances.
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Dan Childs adds:
This Bet Builder anticipates a fairly open and high-scoring contest between teams with an incentive to go all out for the victory. Los Angeles are an attack-minded side who could benefit from the goalscoring instincts of pacy Gabonese forward Denis Bouanga. Esperance de Tunis will not go down without a fight and their feisty approach could be epitomised by Algerian winger Youcef Belaili.
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Olivier Giroud came on at half-time against Chelsea and the veteran forward could feature from the start in Nashville. However, Los Angeles FC head coach Steve Cherundolo cannot call on defender Lorenzo Dellavalle, who is nursing a long-term knee injury.
Expected Los Angeles FC lineup: (4-3-3) Lloris; Palencia, Long, Segura, Hollingshead; Tillman, Igor Jesus, Delgado; Martinez, Giroud, Bouanga.
Changes are likely to be considered for the North Africans, with Abdramane Konate and Elias Mokwana in contention to replace Yan Sasse and Chiheb Jebali.
Expected Esperance de Tunis lineup: (4-2-3-1) Ben Said; Ben Ali, Meriah, Tougai, Ben Hamida; Guenichi, Ogbelu; Mokwana, Konate, Belaili; Rodrigo Rodrigues.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.