Both Pachuca and FC Salzburg have a challenging task ahead of them in this year's Club World Cup, making it crucial for them to start their campaigns with a win on Wednesday.
Having Real Madrid and Al Hilal also in Group H, a victory in this match would significantly boost their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.
Team news
Pachuca have a full squad available for selection, with former Everton and Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon expected to lead the attack.
FC Salzburg, on the other hand, have several players sidelined due to injuries and have opted to leave a significant number of their squad at home.
Absentees for FC Salzburg include Samson Tijani, Aleksa Terzic, and former Liverpool youngster Bobby Clark.
Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager is also in a race against time to recover from a hand injury.
The stats
FC Salzburg endured a tough time in the previous Champions League campaign, losing seven out of their eight matches.
They failed to score in five of those defeats and conceded three or more goals in six games.
In eight of Salzburg's last nine matches, both teams scored.
Pachuca have participated in four Club World Cups under the old format, winning four games overall.
The Mexican club's best result came in 2017 when they secured third place by defeating Al-Jazira 4-1 in the play-off.
Prediction
FC Salzburg have a young squad facing a tough challenge in this year's Club World Cup.
The Austrian team finished second domestically following a challenging season that led to the sacking of former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders, who served less than a year at the helm.
Struggling in the Champions League, FC Salzburg will need to elevate their performances to make an impact at this level.
Pachuca will meet FC Salzburg with some recent struggles since their 2024 CONCACAF Champions League victory.
After a disappointing campaign, manager Guillermo Almada was dismissed, and former Mexico boss Jaime Lozano took over the reins.
Veteran striker Salomon Rondon will be crucial to Pachuca's chances. The Venezuelan netted 15 league goals last season and could pose a threat against FC Salzburg's leaky defense in recent matches.