RABAT, Morocco — Egyptian giants Al-Ahly finished preparations in readiness for their tough clash against Real Madrid on Wednesday in the semi-finals of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat at 9:00pm Cairo Local Time.
The Red Devils will be setting their sights high and is hoping to break new ground at the tournament, having finished third on three occasions.
Managed by former Switzerland international Marcel Koller, the Cairo club is bidding to go one better than the previous two seasons at the Club World Cup in which they finished in third place after beating Palmeiras and Al-Hilal respectively to claim the bronze medal.
Al-Ahly, who qualifies as one of two African representatives, has won bronze at the FIFA Club World Cup on three occasions – 2006, 2020 and 2021.
The 42-time Egyptian top-flight champions has carried their table-topping domestic form with them to the Club World Cup, where victories over Auckland City and the Seattle Sounders have propelled them to the final four for the third successive season.
Koller’s 4-1-4-1 formation has had success thus far at the tournament, with Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng sitting in front of a back four that has conceded just one goal in their previous eight outings.
Real Madrid goes to the Club World Cup without six injured players, including striker Karim Benzema and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Also not going to Morocco are defenders Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Lucas Vazquez and forward Eden Hazard.
Benzema, Courtois and Militao have not been ruled out of joining their teammates for an eventual final if Madrid qualifies, but none of the others are expected to make it.
Los Blancos has won the world club title a record seven times, including three times when the competition was called the Intercontinental Cup.
No club outside the CONMEBOL or UEFA confederations have ever lifted the Club World Cup in its current format, though the latter’s highly revered representatives have failed in the past.
Champions League winners Liverpool (2005), Barcelona (2006) and Chelsea (2012) are three teams to have been beaten on the international stage, and the Egyptian giants will hope to add Madrid to that list at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were beaten 1-0 at Real Mallorca in a frustrating game which dented their bid to retain the Spanish league title, but they can earn their second piece of silverware of the season this week.
In Rabat, where Los Blancos face Al Ahly, Madrid will relish playing in front of an audience more interested in enjoying Vinicius’ quality rather than haranguing the 22-year-old.
“This affects La Liga but now we have to think about the Club World Cup,” said Ancelotti according to AFP.
“We’re going with a lot of hope, with difficulties too, but we will manage it in the best way we can.”
Ancelotti has complained about Madrid’s intense calendar, blaming tiredness for some of his team’s injury issues.
“We won’t throw away a competition, because this club does not throw away competitions,” Ancelotti said last week.
“We are excited to play and the players like it, but there’s a limit for everything and I think that right now, with this calendar, we’re going over it.”
Madrid lifted the European Super Cup in August, beating German side Eintracht Frankfurt, but was damaged by defeat against rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in January.
Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin stepped in for Courtois against Mallorca and said the team had to focus on their new challenge in Morocco.
“It’s Real Madrid and we always come back,” said Lunin.
“We’ve got the Club World Cup coming up and we have to be ready for it.
“We can’t spend too much time thinking about defeat. We have to study our mistakes and move on.”
