ABU DHABI – African champions Al-Ahly of Egypt finished preparations in readiness for their clash against Asian champions Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the third/fourth place playoff at the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday at 3:00pm Cairo Local Time.
Al-Ahly lost 2-0 to Brazil’s Palmeiras at the Al-Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi as the Copa Libertadores winners reached their first-ever FIFA Club World Cup final in what is just their second attempt.
UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea will face Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup final also on Saturday at 6:30pm Cairo Local Time.
Chelsea has reached the FIFA Club World Cup final on their second appearance in the competition.
Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Al-Hilal in the semi-finals to set up a showpiece against Palmeiras, and will be looking to become the eighth different European winners of the competition and the ninth in a row.
Romelu Lukaku scored a much-needed goal as Chelsea beat Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal 1-0 Wednesday to advance to the Club World Cup final against South American champions Palmeiras.
Chelsea’s club-record signing had failed to score in five games before arriving in Abu Dhabi, and the Blues are looking for the 28-year-old to find his best form in the second half of the season.
The Belgium international swept in from close range on 32 minutes after a defensive lapse to send Chelsea through to Saturday’s final, the second in three years between English and Brazilian teams.
“Everybody’s very happy that Romelu scored,” said Chelsea assistant Zsolt Low, who is helping to fill in for coach Thomas Tuchel after his positive COVID-19 test.
Chelsea can join Manchester United and Liverpool as the third English side to win the Club World Cup, having finished as runners-up to Corinthians on their first appearance in 2012.
They may yet have Tuchel in the dugout come the weekend, with the German still hoping to fly out if he returns a negative test.
Low said Tuchel was in touch with the team at half-time, telling his players to calm down.
Al-Hilal, coached by former Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim, will contest the third-place play-off against Egypt’s Al-Ahly as Chelsea’s win made it 12 from 12 for Europe against Asian clubs in the tournament.
Despite the presence of former Manchester United and Watford forward Odion Ighalo alongside ex-Porto striker Moussa Marega in attack, Al-Hilal struggled initially to test Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal.
The Spaniard kept his place in the line-up despite the return of Edouard Mendy following his Africa Cup of Nations triumph with Senegal.
Hakim Ziyech fired a shot narrowly over and Lukaku failed to make proper contact with Cesar Azpilicueta’s low ball across goal, but there was no shortage of service for the Belgian.
He held off a defender only to strike straight at Abdullah Al-Mayouf, but Lukaku was presented with the simplest of chances when Yasir Al-Shahrani’s failed clearance left him to turn in the opener.
Kai Havertz, whose cross led to Lukaku’s goal, clipped an effort against the outside of the post after jinking into the area early in the second half.
Ziyech then drew a good stop from Al-Mayouf before Al-Hilal, who put six past Al-Jazira in the previous round, belatedly sparked into life around the hour.
Arrizabalaga raced off his line to block from Marega and then pulled off a sensational one-handed save, flying to his left to keep out Mohamed Kanno’s curling attempt from 20 metres.
Matheus Pereira tormented Chelsea on his last outing against them while at West Brom last season, but the Brazilian’s fizzing effort into the side-netting was the last glimmer of hope for the record four-time Asian Champions League winners.
“We created good opportunities but sometimes I think there’s no justice in football. I think the result could have been fairer,” said Jardim.
Al-Hilal coach Leonardo Jardim, meanwhile, urged FIFA to reconsider the Club World Cup format that sees the European and South American champions play fewer matches than their rivals.
Jardim said the odds are further stacked against the other sides because of the congested schedule.
“It’s unfair that some teams have to play four matches in eight days and other teams are the best and only have to play two matches and are well rested,” Jardim told a press conference according to AFP.
“I think there should be better care with the schedule, with more days to recover so teams from Asia (and North and Central America) have a better chance.”
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, the record four-time Asian champions, thrashed UAE Pro League winners Al-Jazira 6-1 in the second round Sunday, the biggest win in the competition’s history.
“I’m sure that European teams, and in this case Chelsea, they are always the favourites, no doubt about it, but they have an extra advantage when we have just two days to recover,” said Jardim.
“They have a full squad that is fresh. Our victory from the other match is a reflection of two days earlier because Al-Jazira had played a game two days before.
“I think the game would have been different had Al-Jazira been rested.”
Kai Havertz scored the only goal as Chelsea beat Premier League rivals Manchester City in last season’s final to be crowned European champions for the second time to qualify for the Club World Cup.
The UEFA Champions League holders join their counterparts from Asia, Africa, North and Central America and the Caribbean and South America, as well as a side nominated by the Oceania confederation and the national champions of the host nation, the United Arab Emirates, at the Club World Cup.
Who’s playing in the Club World Cup?
Seven clubs qualified for the Club World Cup: Al-Jazira Club (UAE), Pirae (Tahiti), Al-Ahly (Egypt), Chelsea (England), Palmeiras (Brazil), Monterrey (Mexico) and Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia). Entering the competition in the semi-final stage, Chelsea and Palmeiras both won their matches to reach the final.
Who has won Club World Cup?
Real Madrid 4 (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Barcelona 3 (2009, 2011, 2015)
Bayern München 2 (2013, 2021)
Corinthians 2 (2000, 2012)
AC Milan 1 (2007)
Internacional 1 (2006)
Internazionale Milano 1 (2010)
Liverpool 1 (2019)
Manchester United 1 (2008)
Sao Paulo 1 (2005)
