CWC: Group A remains goalless, Botafogo give chase to PSG
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 16.06.25. | 10:13
Custodians shone in a duel between Porto and Palmeiras, which ended in a goalless draw, while Botafogo beat Seattle 2-1, sending a warning to the Saints and Atletico Madrid
The first round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in Group A is over, and the fans have yet to see a goal! Al Ahly and Inter Miami had shared spoils in a goalless draw in the opening clash of the tournament, while their group rivals, Porto and Palmeiras, did exactly the same.
Even though the Portuguese side was a favourite in prospect, the Brazilians were a better rival throughout the game. Just like in the match between the Egyptians and the Miami crew, goalkeepers shone.
Brazil international and Palmeiras' shot-stopper Weverton had several decent saves, though the hero was Porto's keeper, but not the one that crossed your mind. Portugal national team goalie and Porto captain Diogo Costa wasn't in the squad, so his understudy, the 34-year-old Claudio Ramos, stepped up and did a terrific job, completely filling Costa's shoes.
The "old hand" collected four saves, two of which came in one particular Palmeiras' attack, which brought the Brazilians closest to the eventual winner. Still, both teams' nets remained intact, though everyone hopes the next round - in which Porto will lock horns with Inter Miami and Palmeiras will face Al Ahly - will bring some goals.
The second Brazilian representative in the tournament (out of four in total), Botafogo, opened the 2025 FCWC with a vital victory over the US Seattle Sounders - 2-1.
Following Paris Saint-Germain's crushing triumph over Atletico Madrid, both Botafogo and Seattle knew that victory would bring them significantly closer to advancing to the knockout phase. Still, looking at the stats won't give you a clue who won.
Namely, the MLS side had a possession advantage (60%), as many as 23 attempts, and four more corner kicks than their rivals, all because the Brazilians decided to defend the 2-0 lead Jair and Igor Jesus gave them before the break.
28’ |⚽| GOOOOAL, Jair Cunha heads it in for Botafogo's first goal of the FIFA Club World Cup 🔥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 16, 2025
WATCH @Botafogo - @SoundersFC in the @FIFACWC now | June 14 - July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld pic.twitter.com/NigUINEZvH
When Seattle reduced the gap over Cristian Roldan a quarter of an hour before the end, Botafogo started panicking. That "cowardly" approach could have cost them dearly in added time when Albert Rusnak and Pedro de la Vega wasted colossal chances.
In the next round, Botafogo will face the mighty PSG and hope for (at least) a decent defeat, though it's clear their last-round clash against Atletico Madrid will decide which crew will join the Parisians in the knockout phase. As for Seattle, if they lose against Los Colchoneros, their participation in the Club World Cup will come to an end after only two rounds.
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025
Matchday 1
Sunday
Al Ahly Cairo - Inter Miami 0-0
Bayern Munich - Auckland City 10-0 (6-0)
/Coman 6,21, Boey 18, Olise 20, 45+3, Muller 45,89, Musiala 67, 73 pen, 84/
PSG - Atletico Madrid 3-0 (2-0)
/Ruiz 19, Vitinha 45+1, Mayulu 87/
Monday
Palmeiras - Porto 0-0
Botafogo - Seattle 2-1 (2-0)
/Jair 28, Igor Jesus 44 - Roldan 75/
Monday
22:00: (1.20) Chelsea (7.75) Los Angeles (16.0)
Tuesday
00:55: (5.15) Boca Juniors (3.85) Benfica (1.70)
04:00: (1.35) Flamengo (5.20) Esperance (9.15)
19:00: (6.75) Fluminense (4.30) Dortmund (1.55)
22:00: (1.60) River Plate (3.90) Urawa RD (6.00)
Wednesday
00:55: (2.90) Ulsan (3.15) Mamelodi (2.55)
04:00: (5.90) Monterrey (4.00) Inter Milan (1.58)
19:00: (1.07) Manchester City (13.0) Wydad Casablanca (25.0)
22:00: (1.33) Real Madrid (5.90) Al Hilal (9.50)
Thursday
00:55: (2.85) Pachuca (3.35) Salzburg (2.50)
04:00: (12.0) Al Ain (6.50) Juventus (1.22)
***odds are subject to change***
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