Sports Sports activities Mole previews Sunday’s Club World Cup clash between Al-Ain and Auckland Metropolis, along side predictions, group news and imaginable lineups.
The inaugural model of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup kicks off with a first-round clash between UAE’s Al-Ain and Fresh Zealand’s Auckland Metropolis FC on Saturday, with the hosts coming into the match as reigning AFC Champions League winners after overcoming bold opponents luxuriate in Al Nassr and Al Hilal on their path to victory.
The company, representing Oceania, boast a worthy pedigree as three-time consecutive OFC Champions League winners, even supposing they enter this match following a disappointing Chatham Cup ideal loss to Wellington Olympic.
Match preview
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Al Ain, one of many UAE’s most successfully-known soccer clubs, enter the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup with a worthy worldwide pedigree, highlighted by their 2023-24 AFC Champions League triumph, which secured their jam in this match, and even supposing they’ve no longer obtained the UAE Pro League since 2021-22, they remain competitive domestically with contemporary runner-up finishes in both the league and League Cup.
The hosts, drawing inspiration from that ancient 2018 Club World Cup bustle where they defeated Workforce Wellington, Esperance de Tunis and River Plate en path to the ideal against Proper Madrid, are essentially poised to replicate that success within the 2024 Intercontinental Cup, beginning with this fixture.
Under the guidance of Argentine soccer myth Hernan Crespo , Al Zaeem delight in made a worthy originate to the 2024-25 season, final unbeaten in five suits all the blueprint via all competitions.
Whereas they for the time being sit sixth within the UAE Pro League after two suits, their attacking strength is glaring, having netted 15 dreams in these games, largely because of the wide title striker Kodjo Fo Doh Laba , who has already scored four instances.
Securing a victory over Metropolis would gape them advance to face African giants Al Ahly, the 2023-24 CAF Champions League winners, with the probability of progressing to a playoff round and a doable showdown against UEFA Champions League holders Proper Madrid.
The hosts’ participation within the match holds monumental significance for both the membership and Asian soccer, as they purpose to signify the AFC with distinction, drawing on their 2018 Club World Cup legacy whereas hoping to utilize dwelling advantage at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium to overcome Auckland Metropolis and advance in opposition to doable worldwide glory.
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Auckland Metropolis enter the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup as a dominant force in Fresh Zealand soccer, having secured the OFC Champions League title for the third consecutive yr.
Whereas they no longer too prolonged within the past lost the Chatham Cup ideal to Wellington Olympic on penalties, they remain a bold group, sitting atop the Fresh Zealand National League with 51 ingredients from 22 games.
Metropolis’s success extends beyond the National League, as they’ve dominated the Northern League, an newbie regional opponents that feeds into the National League, winning the title for the past four years and demonstrating their consistency all the blueprint via all levels of domestic opponents, whereas also constructing a reputation for punching above their weight in worldwide tournaments.
Under the management of Albert Riera since December 2021, Auckland Metropolis delight in maintained a high no longer unusual of play, with the manager guiding them via domestic and continental campaigns even supposing their contemporary Chatham Cup ideal loss on penalties used to be a disappointment despite Stipe Ukich ‘s gradual equaliser.
Riera’s men advance into this match with an spectacular account against worldwide opponents as shown within the OFC Champions League, having long gone unbeaten of their last 22 games since March 2020, which involves 19 wins and three draws. Notably, they’ve managed to abet this jog despite going via worthy away fixtures, with 10 of these suits performed on the boulevard.
Facing Al Ain will be a worthy take a look at for Auckland Metropolis, especially with the Emirati aspect playing dwelling advantage and sturdy originate, but Metropolis’s sturdy defensive account and capacity to originate stressed out would maybe well pose considerations for their opponents.
Al-Ain originate (all competitions):
Auckland Metropolis originate (all competitions):
Workforce News
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Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba, Al Ain’s wide title striker and top scorer from last season, is poised to be a key factor of their opening match of this opponents, having already netted four dreams in barely two league suits this season.
Mateo Sanabria , who no longer too prolonged within the past returned from hurt, is alive to to originate his tag within the upcoming match against Auckland Metropolis. Even supposing he has no longer started within the last two games, his recovery is a definite vogue for the group.
Stipe Ukich, the 17-yr-venerable forward for Auckland Metropolis FC, is emerging as a key player within the group’s attacking lineup, having scored in each of his last five suits.
Auckland can delight in the earnings of a neat invoice of successfully being as they method their match against Al Ain, with no obvious accidents affecting their squad.
This stout-strength line-up enhances their possibilities of success within the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, permitting manager Albert Riera to topic his strongest group.
Al-Ain imaginable beginning lineup:
Eisa; Al Ahbabi, Cardoso, Kouadio, Zaabi; Nader, Park; Kaku, Palacios, Rahimi, Laba
Auckland Metropolis imaginable beginning lineup:
Tracey; Murati, Vale, Aizu, Gray, Lobo; Garriga, Ilich, Tayeb, Manickum; Ukich
We advise: Al-Ain 3-1 Auckland Metropolis
Al Ain are in very finest originate, unbeaten of their last five suits all the blueprint via all competitions, and with their wide title striker Kodjo Laba readily accessible and playing in front of their dwelling fans. Al Zaeem should easy get this easily.
For info diagnosis of the probably outcomes, scorelines and more for this match please click on here.
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