Al Ahly will be looking to make history when they face Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup.
The Spanish giants, who arrive without a number of key players and having lost 1-0 in their last league game, have lost just a single match in this competition.
Al-Ahly have lost 2-0 in the semi-finals in both their previous outings (Bayern Munich and Palmeiras respectively). The Egyptians scored an 88th-minute winner to beat Seattle Sounders 1-0 to set up this semi-final.
Al-Ahly are on a run of 23 matches without defeat (W19, D4) so they will be fairly confident. Their water-tight defence hasn’t conceded in any of their last four competitive games (W4).
Karim Benzema and centre-back Eder Militão are unavailable for the clash in Morocco as well as Thibaut Courtois. In fact, the 1-0 loss to Mallorca on Sunday leaves Los Blancos 8 points behind Barcelona and this tournament may very well be an unwelcome distraction.
Real Madrid are chasing a record fifth CWC title
Nobody has won this tournament more often than Madrid’s Toni Kroos (five) and he’ll be hoping to add to his six club goal contributions this term (G2, A4).