The FIFA Club World Cup is in full swing. We slowly approach Round Two of the competition after Al Ittihad defeated Auckland City in Round 1. Now the anticipation is building ahead of the clash between two powerhouse teams – Al Ahly SC and Al Ittihad on 15 December 2023.
This highly anticipated match will determine which team will qualify for the semi-finals and face Fluminense. The stage is set for an epic clash between last season’s Saudi Pro League winners and the CAF Champions League winners of the last season.
Predictions for the Round 2 match
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Before diving into predictions, let’s take a look at how these teams have fared in their last 10 matches.
Al Ittihad– WLWWWDWLLW
Al Ahly- DDDWDWWDLD
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While Al Ahly may have fewer losses, they also have fewer wins. The Egyptian team has heavily relied on their defense throughout their recent matches, but the Saudi side has shown strength in their attacking play. One player to watch out for is their superstar striker, Karim Benzema, who has scored 9 goals in 13 league matches.
All this strongly suggests that Al Ittihad possesses the sharper edge in this matchup. Our prediction is that Al Ittihad will win the match with a score, Al Ittihad 2-0 Al Ahly.
The expected lineup of Al Ittihad and Al Ahly
Moving on to the expected starting lineups, both teams are expected to go with the tried and trusted 4-3-3 formation.
Al Ittihad–
Grohe (Goalkeeper)
Shanqeeti, Hegazy, Kadesh, Al Hawsawi – (Defense)
Fabinho, Kante, Al-Ghamdi – (Midfield)
Romarinho, Benzema, Coronado – (Forward)
Al Ahly-
El Shenawy – (Goalkeeper)
Hany, Hanafi, Rabia, Maaloul – (Defense)
Dieng, Attia, Magdy (Midfield)
Tau, Kahraba, El Shahat (Forward)
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Venue, timing, and where to watch the match
The match between Al Ittihad and Al Ahly will take place at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. It will kick-start at around 18:00 (UTC). For fans eager to catch the action, there are several options available to stream the match. If you’re in the UK, TNT Sports will be broadcasting the game, but a subscription is required to access the stream.
For those residing in the US and other parts of the world, FIFA’s streaming service, FIFA+, is the go-to platform. The best part is that it’s free of charge and just needs a signup. In addition to TNT Sports and FIFA+, fans in India will also have the opportunity to catch the match on Eurosport.
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With all this said, the clash between Al Ahly SC and Al Ittihad promises to be an enthralling encounter. Are you excited about the match? Let us know in the comments.