Etoile Sportive du Sahel will face Mexico's most successful side in recent years Club de Futbol Pachuca in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Whoever wins this encounter will face Boca Juniors in the semi final next Wednesday.

Pachuca is the oldest team in Mexico. In the last ten years, the club has been one of the most successful clubs in Mexico winning five national championships, two CONCACAF Champions Cups, the 2007 Superliga and one Copa Sudamericana in 2006.

Etoile, on the other hand, has been very successful in recent years overcoming Tunisian giants Esperance & Club Africain. They are currently the only club in Africa that have won all African championship at least once overcoming both Ahly & Zamalek the largest sides in Africa whom yet to win the CAF Cup (equivalent to UEFA Cup).

Although I do not know much about the Mexican teams, but I still do believe that Etoile is underestimated here. This handicap is huge, but I guess bookmakers know that most people do not know much about the Tunisian side and thus will probably tip the Mexican side to win.

Pachuca has a dip in form in recent months after the departure of Colombian defender Mosquera to Sevilla and the injury of Columbian goal keeper Calero. They have finished third in Group 1 in the Mexican Apertura and then got beaten in the playoffs 6-0 in aggregate against Cruz Azul less than month ago. The team's most recent practice game in Japan was a 4-2 defeat against JEF United.

On the other hand, Etoile are currently the Tunisian league leaders with 23 points and are on top form making them possibly better prepared than their rivals.

Verdict: Although I'm not sure about Etoile's qualification to the semis, but I'm pretty sure that you'll see a very tight game.

Good Luck

Pick : Etoile +1
Odds : 2.02
Stake : 7 / 10
Bookmaker : Bet365
Date : 2007-12-09
Match Result :
Tipster Personal Link/Sponsor:

Viewed 458 times.