Introduction
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has delivered drama and upsets, and as we head into Matchday 2 of Group B, all eyes will be on the clash between Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders and La Liga giants Atletico Madrid. Both teams are without a win and desperate to turn things around in a tightly contested group that also features tournament favorites Paris Saint-Germain and Brazilian powerhouse Botafogo.
For Atletico Madrid, the humiliating 4-0 defeat to PSG has sparked criticism and raised questions about their structure and mentality. Seattle, on the other hand, showed signs of resilience despite losing 2-1 to Botafogo at home. With everything on the line, the Lumen Field showdown promises goals, drama, and potentially a few surprises.
- Kick-off: June 20, 2025 – 10:00 PM UTC
- Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle
- Stage: Group B – Matchday 2 of 3
- Live Stream: DAZN (Free)
- Odds: Seattle Sounders +850 | Draw +420 | Atletico Madrid -340
Our Analysis: Form of Both Teams
The Club World Cup is now at the matchday two stage, and this game has become extremely important for both teams. Given that Seattle Sounders and Atletico Madrid have lost their opening group games, the loser of this game will likely face elimination.
Seattle Sounders were unable to capitalize on home advantage against Botafogo in their opening game, as they were beaten 2-1. Playing at home again might not be an advantage because they've struggled there recently. Given how strong European sides appear, having to play against them in their last two group matches will be concerning.
Atletico Madrid were beaten 4-0 by PSG on matchday one, after which Diego Simeone complained about the financial gap between the two sides. However, now their financial situation is better in comparison to their opponents. There’s huge pressure on them to turn things around here ahead of the crucial final-day clash with Botafogo.
Match Preview: Two Teams, One Lifeline
Atletico Madrid’s Redemption Mission
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are not accustomed to thrashings. Yet, PSG’s relentless 4-0 assault on them in Matchday 1 has exposed serious frailties in both defense and midfield creativity. Atletico managed just 25.6% possession and only one shot on target—numbers that are astonishingly low for a club with Champions League pedigree.
Key players like Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez were virtually invisible, while defender Clément Lenglet’s red card only worsened the situation. With Lenglet suspended, Simeone will rely on José María Giménez to stabilize the backline.
However, against a relatively weaker Seattle side, Atletico are expected to enjoy more time on the ball and far more attacking opportunities.
Seattle Sounders: Home Soil, Hopeful Hearts
Seattle Sounders went down 2-0 early to Botafogo but came roaring back in the second half. They had 64% possession post-halftime and outshot their opponents 19-5. Cristian Roldan found the net, and Albert Rusnák was instrumental, involved in 11 attacking sequences, including 7 shots and 4 chances created.
Still, Schmetzer’s side will need to be sharper from the start, as slow openings could cost them dearly against the likes of Alvarez and Griezmann. While history and star power favor Atletico, Seattle’s strong home support and recent attacking stats cannot be overlooked.
Seattle Sounders vs. Atletico Madrid: Key Stats & Insights
68.2% of simulations run before the match predicted an Atletico Madrid win.
The Seattle Sounders are winless in their last 2 home games after going unbeaten in 14 straight (W8 D6).
Atletico Madrid faced 11 shots on target vs. PSG—their worst defensive outing in over a decade.
Albert Rusnák has 20 goal contributions (8 goals, 12 assists) in his last 27 appearances at Lumen Field.
Julian Alvarez has scored 29 goals in 55 appearances since joining Atletico, including key goals in early and late periods of matches.
Predicted Lineups
Seattle Sounders expected lineup: Frei, A. Roldan, Kim, Ragen, Bell, C. Roldan, Vargas, Ferreira, Rusnak, Kent, Musovski
Atletico Madrid expected lineup: Oblak, Llorente, Le Normand, Gimenez, Galan, Simeone, De Paul, Gallagher, Lino, Alvarez, Sorloth
Unavailable: Stuart Hawkins, Paul Arriola (Seattle); Clément Lenglet (Atletico, suspension)
Player to Watch: Julian Alvarez
Atletico’s World Cup-winning striker Julian Alvarez is under pressure to lead from the front. After a quiet showing against PSG, Alvarez will relish the opportunity to face a more open and aggressive Seattle defense. Notably, 45% of his goals in the 2024/25 season came in either the opening 15 minutes or final 15 minutes of matches. Expect him to make an early or late impact.
Tactical Battle: Possession vs. Compact Defense
Seattle’s high-possession, high-press strategy in the second half vs. Botafogo showed promise, but can they sustain that against Atletico? The Spanish side will likely revert to their classic 4-4-2 shape, looking to absorb pressure and hit on the counterattack. The inclusion of Sørloth as a target man alongside Álvarez could stretch Seattle’s center-backs.
Brian Schmetzer must get his midfield balance right. Ferreira and Vargas will be key in controlling tempo and screening the backline. Meanwhile, Rusnak’s ability to find pockets of space and create will determine whether the Sounders can unlock Atleti’s defense.
Atletico Avenge Opening-Round Defeat
There’s huge pressure on Atletico here as they need to win to progress and avoid early elimination. On paper, this is the easiest game of Group B.
After the embarrassment of a 4-0 defeat on opening day, Diego Simeone will expect his side to bounce back, and it’s unlikely that they’ll have any sympathy for Seattle. Having conceded four goals, their full focus on the training ground has been on defensive duties.
This makes an Atletico clean sheet seem very likely, as sides coached by Simeone are usually solid in defense. They’ve kept a clean sheet in three of their last four victories, so they’re certainly well averse to solid defensive showings. Given that Seattle have lost their last two at home, they’ll hope that the result ends up in their favor.
Seattle Sounders vs Atletico Madrid Bet 1: Atletico Madrid win and both teams not to score at odds of 2.05 on Betway
Expect First-Half Entertainment
After humbling defeats on matchday one, both managers will hope to see a response from their respective sides. They likely won’t be keen to wait and will want their sides to start strongly, which could turn into an entertaining first half.
The high stakes of this match will also contribute to that, as failing to win in this game is likely to be catastrophic for one or both of these sides. These teams’ opening round games saw over 1.5 first-half goals, and both sides conceded twice before half-time.
Their weak defenses could come under strain again in this match. Atletico are widely tipped to have improved a little, but their opponents will be eager to give them a tough time. Seattle outshot Botafogo 19-5 in the second half on opening day, which suggests that they’d found their feet in this tournament.
Marcos Llorente to Overstep the Mark
Not many Atletico players were praised after their match against PSG, but Marcos Llorente was an exception. He won five tackles against them on Sunday, which was comfortably the most in the game. However, there’s little value in backing him to perform tackles.
There could be some value in backing him to make a foul. Although he didn’t commit a foul against PSG, he’s typically one of Atletico’s leading tacklers. Therefore, he always comes close to making a foul. If he misjudges one tackle, the bet pays off, which makes the odds look like good value.
Llorente has made 9 fouls across his last seven appearances, giving him an average of 1.29 fouls per game. Based on the law of averages, he’s due to commit a foul here, as he didn't in the last game. Moreover, the stakes of the game increase that chance.
Betting Odds & Tips
Seattle to win: +850 (10.0%)
Draw: +420 (17.4%)
Atletico to win: -340 (77.8%)
Correct score tip: 2-1 in favor of Atletico
Anytime goal scorer: Julian Alvarez
Current Betting Odds from Stake.com
According to Stake.com, the betting odds for Seattle Sounders and Atletico Madrid are 8.40 and 1.40 respectively. The odds for having a draw is 4.80.
Watch Live & Betting Offers
Watch the match live on DAZN (available for free in select regions). Don’t miss this Group B showdown at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
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Final Predictions
Group B has been a tough battleground, and with PSG dominating proceedings, this match is make-or-break for both Seattle Sounders and Atletico Madrid. While the odds favor the Spanish side, the American hosts have shown they can rise to the occasion. Expect a competitive match full of tactical shifts, big moments, and potential late drama.
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