Palmeiras and Al Ahly clash in Group A
Looking to record their first wins of the group stage, Palmeiras and Al Ahly clash at MetLife Stadium in the Club World Cup on Thursday afternoon.
Verdao shared the spoils with European outfit Porto last time out, whilst the Red Devils commenced the tournament with a stalemate against Inter Miami.
Aiming to secure a top-two finish and make it through to the last 16 of FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup, Palmeiras commenced their schedule in the United States this summer with a share of the honours with Porto at MetLife Stadium on Sunday evening.
With Verdao’s Estevao and attacker Rodrigo Mora of Porto on the pitch at the same time, there were two prodigies on show for those in attendance, but the game did not provide any goals.
After collecting a draw from their opening match of the section, Palmeiras are currently occupying third spot in the Group A standings by the virtue of alphabetical order, meaning that there is all to play for ahead of matches versus Al Ahly and Inter Miami over the next week.
Both top goalscorer and assister for his side during the 2024 Brazilian Serie A campaign, wonderkid Estevao is playing his final matches for Verdao ahead of a permanent move across the globe to Premier League giants Chelsea at the end of this competition.
Forty-five time winners of the Egyptian Premier League and 12-time victors in the CAF Champions League, Al Ahly are the standout side from Africa at this summer’s Club World Cup and were given the honour of opening the show against Inter Miami on the weekend.
The contest at the Hard Rock Stadium was set to be a goalfest according to some specialists, but what panned out was a thrilling goalless draw, with the highlight arriving during the closing stages of the first period, when Trezeguet missed a penalty for the Red Devils.
Having passed through the test of Miami and Messi unscathed, Al Ahly are sitting at the summit of the Group A rankings with one point, with maximum points against Palmeiras on Thursday afternoon potentially enough to see them through to the last 16.
Topping all of the attacking metrics for the Red Devils in the Egyptian Premier League this season, Emam Ashour is the star of the show for Thursday’s match.
With an incredible amount on the line for both sides, we are expecting a cagey affair between Palmeiras and Al Ahly this week.
The Red Devils could be blunt in attack without the talents of Ashour, although they should be good enough for a share of the points.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Inter Miami battle with Porto today
Seeking to put themselves in control of Group A and strengthen their hopes of reaching the FIFA Club World Cup knockout rounds, Inter Miami do battle with Porto at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday.
Both teams currently sit level on points with Al Ahly and Palmeiras in Group A after picking up a solitary point from their matchday one fixtures.
Inter Miami were unable to make a winning start to the Club World Cup as they were held to a goalless stalemate by Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the opening match of the tournament in Florida last weekend.
Head coach Javier Mascherano admitted that “nerves and anxiety played a trick” on his team in the first half, but he expressed satisfaction with the effort and attitude shown by his players after thee interval and believes that his team “can beat anyone” if they can reproduce their second-half showing in future matches.
Inter Miami, who were awarded their place at the Club World Cup after winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield, will enter their final two Group A fixtures with Porto and Palmeiras as underdogs and realistically need at least one victory if they wish to secure a top-two finish.
Ramos deputised for injured captain Diogo Costa and made four crucial interventions to deny the Brazilian giants, including a brilliant double save to keep out close-range efforts from Richard Rios and Mauricio in first-half stoppage time.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were both left frustrated in front of goal last time out, but they have found the net 23 times between them this year and are expected to continue in attack.
Another closely-contested battle could be in store with a lot riding on this fixture. Both teams will be keen to rediscover their golden touch in the final third, and while Messi and co will back themselves to pull off an upset, the strength of their European counterparts should ultimately shine through in Atlanta.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Atletico Madrid faceoff with Seattle Sounders
Spanish giants Atletico Madrid travel to Lumen Field to face Seattle Sounders on their home turf in their second Group B fixture at the FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday.
Both teams enter this pivotal contest on the back of suffering defeats on matchday one, with Atleti losing heavily to Paris Saint-Germain and Seattle coming up short against Botafogo.
One of three American teams competing at the newly-expanded Club World Cup, MLS side Seattle were unable to take advantage of home comforts when they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Brazilian outfit Botafogo on Monday.
Head coach Brian Schmetzer could not fault the effort of his players, but he has acknowledged that his side lacked the cutting edge in front of goal required to come away with at least a point and has admitted that “the road doesn’t get any easier now”.
Indeed, Seattle already sit three points behind the top two in Group B and must find a way to win at least one of their final two fixtures against European giants Atletico and PSG if they wish to keep their slim hopes of reaching the knockout rounds alive.
All is not lost for Simeone, though, as their toughest group-stage fixture, on paper, is now out of the way and their focus shifts to favourable-looking encounters with Seattle and Botafogo, games they are expected – but by no means are guaranteed – to win.
In what promises to be a decisive showdown, Seattle cannot be taken lightly by Atletico, but Simeone’s side will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top and the prowess of the European giants is likely to shine through on this occasion.
Credit: .sportsmole.co.uk
