Ace Football previews the Club World Cup semi-final between Al Ahly and Bayern Munich, and offers form guides and team news.
European champions Bayern Munich meet the world’s most decorated club in Egyptian side Al Ahly for a FIFA Club World Cup semi-final tie on Monday evening.
Champions League glory last season booked Bayern only their second appearance in the competition. They previously won it under Pep Guardiola in 2013. Al Ahly, meanwhile, qualified for the last four by Qatari side Al-Duhail 1-0.
Given Bayern’s lack of preparation, along with their several-hour flight delay to Doha, Al Ahly will fancy their chances of pulling off an upset. It should be an interesting affair as the biggest clubs in Egyptian and German football history vie for World Cup glory.
The winner will meet Mexican giants, and the current CONCACAF Champions League title holders, Tigres UANL in the Club World Cup final on Thursday in Ar-Rayyan.
Al Ahly Form & Stats
The Red Devils, like Bayern, haven’t featured in the Club World Cup since 2013. They lost both their games convincingly back then. Almost eight years later, however, they’re back and better than ever.
Al Ahly are like their opponents in many ways, having dominated domestic affairs since 2013. Six Egyptian Premier League titles and two Egypt Cups have come their way across the last seven seasons. They also won a record ninth CAF Champions League crown, and a 118th trophy overall, in November by beating Zamalek 2-1 in Cairo.
Pitso Mosimane’s side are, in fact, on a 32-match unbeaten run (W26 D6) in all competitions at the moment. Nine clean sheets in their last 11 games, on the other hand, proves their defensive prowess. They tend to save their best for last, with the bulk of their 19 goals in the Egyptian Premier League coming past the hour-mark this season.
Key Team Stats
- On a 32-match unbeaten run (W26 D6) in all competitions.
- Kept 9 clean sheets in their last 11 games in all competitions.
- Only 10.6% of their 19 Premier League goals have come before half-time this season.
- Have never reached the Club World Cup final after 6 attempts.
- Won a world-record 118 major titles.
Bayern Munich Form & Stats
Considering their relentless schedule, along with a several-hour flight delay in Berlin, Bayern will probably feel they could’ve done without the trip to Doha. Nonetheless, they’re in the Qatari capital now and ready to challenge for a 78th major honor.
Kingsley Coman was on target to seal a 1-0 win over Hertha BSC last Friday. It was the club’s sixth win in succession, moving them seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table. Therefore, unless things take a turn for the worse, a ninth consecutive league title is within their grasp.
This comfortable advantage will give Hansi Flick the confidence to use his best players in Qatar. Motivation won’t be lacking either, with both manager and players hungry for a sixth title in less than a year.
Key Team Stats
- Won their last 5 league games.
- Kept 3 clean sheets in their last 5 league games.
- Won 23 of their 30 games in all competitions this season (D4 L3).
- Won the FIFA World Cup title once in 2013 under Pep Guardiola.
- Aim to become the second team in football history to win 6 trophies in the space of 12 months after Barcelona in 2009.
- Won their only meeting against Al Ahly 2-1 in January 2012.
- Won their last 6 competitive meetings on neutral ground (2 DFB Cup finals, 3 Champions League games, 1 UEFA Super Cup).
- Robert Lewandowski has scored 14 goals in his last 14 appearances in all competitions.
Team News
Al Ahly
Out: Karim Nedved, Mahmoud Metwaly, Mohamed Mahmoud, Junior Ajayi, Walid Soliman.
Doubts: Badr Benoun, Mohamed Hany, Hussein El Shahat.
Bayern Munich
Out: Leon Goretzka, Javi Martinez, Tanguy Nianzou, Alex Nubel, Armindo Sieb.
Doubts: N/A.
Head-To-Head Record
The two clubs have only faced each other once back in a friendly in January 2012, which Bayern won 2-1.
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