Palmeiras vs Al-Ahly

On Thursday afternoon, Palmeiras and Al Ahly face off at MetLife Stadium in the Club World Cup, both teams eager to claim their first group-stage victory.

Verdao battled to a draw against European side Porto in their last match, while the Red Devils kicked off their tournament with a goalless tie against Inter Miami.

With their sights set on a top-two finish to advance to the round of 16 in FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup, Palmeiras began their U.S. campaign with a stalemate against Porto at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. The match showcased two young talents—Palmeiras’ Estevao and Porto’s Rodrigo Mora—but neither side could break the deadlock, thanks to solid performances by goalkeepers Weverton and Claudio Ramos.

Following their opening draw, Palmeiras sit third in Group A, ranked by alphabetical order, with crucial matches against Al Ahly and Inter Miami looming over the next week.

Estevao, Palmeiras’ leading scorer and assist provider in the 2024 Brazilian Serie A, is playing his final games for Verdao before his permanent transfer to Premier League powerhouse Chelsea at the tournament’s conclusion.

Meanwhile, Al Ahly, the 45-time Egyptian Premier League champions and 12-time CAF Champions League winners, are Africa’s premier representatives at this summer’s Club World Cup. They opened the tournament against Inter Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, where expectations of a high-scoring affair were unmet in a gripping 0-0 draw. The match’s defining moment came late in the first half when Trezeguet failed to convert a penalty for the Red Devils.

Having held firm against Miami and Lionel Messi, Al Ahly lead Group A with one point. A win against Palmeiras on Thursday could secure their place in the knockout stage.

Emam Ashour, who tops Al Ahly’s attacking charts in the Egyptian Premier League this season, is the key figure for the Red Devils. However, the 27-year-old’s participation is uncertain after sustaining a serious injury early in their match against Inter Miami.