Palmeiras vs Al Ahly Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Group Stage
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There has yet to be a goal scored in Group A but that could change here with both Palmeiras and Al Ahly aiming to register their first win of the tournament.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN / US – DAZN
Palmeiras team news: Unchanged?
After holding Porto to a draw in their Group A opener, Abel Ferreira could opt for an unchanged line-up for this contest, with a 3-4-3 formation the approach once again.
Bruno Rodrigues and Vitor Figueiredo are both expected to miss the whole tournament through injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Weverton; Giay, Gomez, Murilo; Anderson, Rios, Moreno, Piquerez; Estevao, Mauricio, Roque
Unavailable: Rodrigues (Injured), Figueiredo (Injured)
Questionable:
Al Ahly team news: Ashour blow
Star man Emam Ashour will miss the remainder of the tournament after sustaining a broken collarbone early on in the match against Inter Miami.
Zizo, his replacement in that match, is therefore likely to start this one.
Predicted XI (4-3-2-1): El Shenawi; Hany, Dari, Ibrahim, Koka; Ben Romdhane, Attia, Fathi; Zizo, Trezeguet; Ali
Unavailable: Ashour (Injured)
Questionable:
Key stats
- This is the third FIFA club competition meeting between Palmeiras and Al Ahly. The Egyptian side won 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out following a 0-0 draw in the third-place play-off in the competition now known as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ in February 2021. The Brazilian outfit recorded a 2-0 victory a year later in the semi-finals of the same competition.
- Al Ahly have lost five of their previous six FIFA club competition matches against South American teams. The exception is the 3-2 penalty shoot-out success against Palmeiras in February 2021.
- Al Ahly are the only African team that Palmeiras have faced in a FIFA club competition.
- Al Ahly’s Mohamed Hany scored in his team’s 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Palmeiras in the third-place play-off in the competition now known as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ in February 2021. The Brazilian club’s Paraguayan defender Gustavo Gómez also scored in the shoot-out.
- Palmeiras midfielder Raphael Veiga scored his side’s opening goal in a 2-0 semi-final win against Al Ahly in the semi-finals of the competition now known as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ in February 2022.
- Excluding penalty shoot-outs, Al Ahly have not lost any of their last nine competitive matches (W6 D3).
- This is Al Ahly’s 29th match in a FIFA club competition - more than any other team.
- Palmeiras have kept eight clean sheets in their last 11 matches in all competitions.
- Al Ahly have not conceded a goal in their last three FIFA Club competition matches.
Palmeiras vs Al Ahly prediction
Goalkeepers were on top in Palmeiras’ opening game of the tournament against Porto with a goalless draw the end result, but the Brazilian side will be content with that given that it was their toughest game – on paper – in Group A.
The Brazilian side may even have their sights on first place now, as beating both Al Ahly and Inter Miami would give them a strong chance of topping the group.
Al Ahly were frustrated by a goalkeeper themselves in the opening game of the tournament, with Inter Miami stopper Oscar Ustari denying Mahmoud Trezeguet from the penalty spot late in the first half. Like Palmeiras, the Egyptian side took a point from their first foray into the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, but they know they now face an uphill task to finish in the top two.
A South American club is yet to taste defeat in the tournament and that can continue here. Palmeiras proved against Porto that they can be competitive in this tournament, and we’re expecting them to have too much for an Al Ahly side missing their best player.
Palmeiras vs Al Ahly tip: Palmeiras to win
