River Plate vs Monterrey Prediction: Millonarios to extend unbeaten streak

River Plate got off to a fantastic start at the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup in the USA, beating the Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 in Seattle on Tuesday. Monterrey, meanwhile, surprisingly held Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Wednesday.

Rayados return to the stadium on Sunday (02:00 BST, DAZN) as they take on River Plate, who can book their ticket to the knockouts with a win. Below are my River Plate vs Monterrey predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this Group E game.

Team News

Despite comfortably beating Urawa in midweek, River Plate could make a few changes to their starting XI for Sunday's meeting with Monterrey.

Sebastian Driussi scored his side's second goal against their Japanese counterparts but was forced from the field within two minutes of his strike with an ankle injury. Should the Argentine be ruled out of action, Colombian attacker Miguel Borja, who replaced Driussi against the Reds, will get the nod to lead the line in Pasadena.

Football Odds

Veteran midfielders Enzo Perez and Nacho Fernandez were both substituted at half-time on Tuesday, with the former said to be struggling with muscle discomfort, so Maximiliano Meza and Guiliano Galoppo, who were introduced at the start of the second half for the pair, could come in from the off on Sunday.

Perez, Galoppo, German Pezzella and Marcos Acuna were all booked in River Plate's group opener, meaning they are all walking a disciplinary tightrope now as two yellows before the semi-finals results in a two-match ban.

Monterrey, meanwhile, could opt for an unchanged starting XI, following their heroics against Inter last time out, when Sergio Ramos opened the scoring for the Mexicans in the 25th minute.

Fellow Spaniards Oliver Torres and Sergio Canales also began the game against the Nerazzurri, with Argentine Lucas Ocampos, who started his career at River Plate, deployed in attack alongside German Berterame.

Two other Argentines, goalkeeper Esteban Andrada and midfielder Jorge Rodriguez, started in Pasadena, and the latter must be careful on Sunday as he was booked against Inter.

River Plate vs Monterrey Odds

River Plate are 19/20 to make it back-to-back wins in the competition, implying a 51.3% chance of success, while Monterrey are 16/5, or a 23.8% chance, to secure their first victory.

The draw is priced at 5/2, both teams to score at 10/11, and over 2.5 total goals at 11/10.

Borja (13/8) and River Plate's first goalscorer in the competition this year, Facundo Colidio (21/10), head the anytime goalscorer market, followed by Real Madrid-bound teenager Franco Mastantuono (9/4). Berterame (13/5) is first up for Rayados, with Ramos 6/1 to strike again.

Booking Points - 80+ @ 9/2

River Plate and Monterrey have only met twice before - both in friendlies. The first head-to-head, in January 2023, produced six yellows and one red, totalling 75 booking points.

The sides met again the following January, this time without a sending off, although they were still four cautions, amounting to 40 booking points.

Given that both previous head-to-heads were only friendlies, I can only imagine how fiercely contested Sunday's match will be.

Today's Football Fixtures

River Plate's opening game of the tournament saw 60 booking points awarded, with the Millonarios responsible for 40 of them, while Monterrey were flashed one yellow against Inter, which made up 25% of the 40 booking points shown in that stalemate.

However, Rayados' previous game, a 2-1 defeat to Toluca, saw 75 booking points produced, and there has been at least one red card shown in seven of their last 13 matches - nine in total across that period.

River Plate, meanwhile, were involved in an 80 booking points contest with Platense last month, and there have been two dismissals in their last seven outings. Gallardo's side could clinch qualification to the knockouts on Sunday, while Monterrey will be looking to claim a first win to go above their opponents in Group E, so I can't see either team holding back in Pasadena.

Considering the fiery nature of their 'friendlies' in the last couple of years, I'm confident we can see another card-crazy contest here, with 80+ booking points a real possibility.

Remember, with Betfred, a yellow amounts to 10 booking points, a straight red 25, and a sending off for two yellows 35.

Double Chance & Both Teams to Score - River Plate or Draw & Yes @ 13/10

River Plate's victory over Urawa earlier this week made it 19 games without defeat (excluding penalty shootouts), with their last loss a 2-0 reverse at home to Estudiantes on March 1.

Despite making themselves difficult to beat, the Millonarios haven't been watertight at the back as they are now four games without a clean sheet, and have recorded just one shutout in their last nine.

The double chance result on River Plate and both teams to score has landed in 11 of their last 15 matches, and on Sunday, they come up against a side that is no stranger to a 'BTTS-Yes'.

Both teams have found the net in Rayados' last three games, with the most recent two seeing the Liga MX outfit fail to win. BTTS-Yes has actually been a winning selection in 12 of their 15 contests since the start of March, and they've failed to win eight of them.

Monterrey took a good point from their Group E opener with Inter but will be eager to get a first victory on board this weekend to avoid a must-win scenario on the final day against Urawa, so Domenec Torrent's team shouldn't be too defensive here.

Meanwhile, River Plate will sense an opportunity to finish top of the group, with a win on Sunday putting them in a position where they could draw with Inter next Thursday and clinch first place. Therefore, Gallardo's charges are likely to be out for all three points, too, setting up an entertaining contest at the Rose Bowl.

I can see both teams keeping up their records and scoring here, but while I fancy Monterrey to breach River Plate's back line, a victory may be beyond them with the Millonarios proving to be such a difficult side to beat lately.

Offers

Place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Club World Cup match played on Saturday or Sunday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Monday’s Club World Cup matches.

Double Delight & Hat-Trick Heaven: Get DOUBLE or TREBLE the odds if your winning First Goalscorer bet scores a 2nd or 3rd in all Premier League matches on Sunday

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.