Palmeiras get their FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021™ campaign underway against Al Ahly, with a final against Chelsea or Al Hilal at stake. The Brazilians pick up right where they left off, having lost to Al Ahly on penalties in their most recent outing in the competition last year, ending their campaign in fourth place.

Return of the internationals Al Ahly will boosted by the return of five players who will join up with the team after finishing runners-up at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2021. Defenders Ayman Ashraf and Akram Tawfik, midfielders Hamdy Fathy and Amr El Solia and forward Mohamed Sherif will all be available for selection against Palmeiras, while goalkeeper and captain Mohamed El Shenawy is sidelined with an injury suffered on international duty. Third time lucky for Al Ahly? Tuesday’s fixture will be the third time Al Ahly face Brazilian opponents in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals. The Egyptian powerhouse lost 2-1 to Internacional in 2006, then were beaten 1-0 by Corinthians six years later. Should they repeat last year’s result against Palmeiras, reaching their first-ever final would taste all the sweeter after breaking their Brazilian hoodoo.

Measuring up to state rivals Having become the first Brazilian side to win back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles since Sao Paulo in 1992 and 1993, Palmeiras go into their second consecutive FIFA Club World Cup trying to emulate state rivals Corinthians and Sao Paulo in winning this trophy.

9 Brazil holds the record for the number of clubs participating in the FIFA Club World Cup, with Palmeiras becoming the ninth Brazilian side to appear in the competition last year. However, they remain the only ones not to finish in the top three.

4 This is Al Ahly’s fourth appearance in the semi-finals. No other African club has reached this stage more than once, and only four African sides having ever reached the FIFA Club World Cup final four: Al Ahly (4), Etoile du Sahil, TP Mazembe and Raja Casablanca (once apiece). 0 Palmeiras are yet to open their account in the competition after two games, having lost to Tigres 1-0 in the semi-finals and drawn 0-0 with Al Ahly before losing on penalties at Qatar 2020.

“A club as big as Palmeiras, the target is to win every tournament we enter. And that’s what we believe we will do at the Club World Cup.” Dudu, Palmeiras player “We respect Palmeiras. They are a big team, and their coach is an intelligent man. Everybody knows the big players they sent to Europe, but we are a big team too.” Pitso Mosimane, Al Ahly coach