Al Ahly vs Real Madrid betting tips: FIFA Club World Cup semi-final preview, predictions and odds

Updated: July 05, 2023 at 5:12 am GMT+1

Recommended bets

Match preview

Real Madrid are the record four-times winners of the FIFA Club World Cup, so will they be picking up a fifth title on Saturday night?

Los Blancos featured in the first-ever edition of this competition in 2000, missing out on the final, despite not losing a game in their group.

Since then though, the were crowned champions of the world four times between 2014 and 2018, including winning the most-recent edition held in Morocco nine years ago.

Given that 14 of the last 15 Club World Cups have been won by the UEFA representative, 2012 the exception, Carlo Ancelotti’s team are overwhelming favourites to continue that trend.

However, los Blancos do have issues at the moment, not least the fact they’re eight points below Barcelona in La Liga, following Sunday’s shock 1-0 defeat at Mallorca.

Thibaut Courtois, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Karim Benzema all missed that game injured, so are, at best, doubtful for this tournament.

So, can Al Ahly become the first club ever to defeat a European outfit in a Club World Cup semi-final?

The ten-times champions of Africa have already played twice at this competition to set up this glamour fixture.

First, a week ago, they swatted aside Auckland City, prevailing 3-0 in a straight-forward first round tie.

Then, on Saturday, they left in late to beat Seattle Sounders, but Mohamed Magdy’s 88th minute deflected strike saw them sneak through 1-0.

Here, Marcel Koller’s team will be hoping it’s fifth time lucky.

The Red Devils have previously fallen at the semi-final stage in 2006 against Internacional, to Corinthians in 2012, 2021 against Bayern Munich and at the hands of Palmeiras 12 months ago.

Despite their ongoing trials and tribulations, everything points towards a Real Madrid win at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah.