Al Jazira’s triumph against Urawa Reds in the quarter-final of the FIFA Club World Cup has set up the biggest clash in the club’s history: a semi-final against the mighty Real Madrid.
It’s been a remarkable journey for Al Jazira, who won only their second league title last season, one that got them to the Club World Cup stage, where two wins on home turf have brought them to this historic clash against the Spanish and European champions.
Here’s a statistical look at how Al Jazira and Real Madrid match-up.
BRIDGING THE TROPHY GAP
Madrid, of course, are one of the most accomplished clubs in world football. They’ve won both La Liga and the Champions League more times than any other club, and their overall trophy count stands at 87.
It’s fair to say Al Jazira have some catching up to do. Their triumph in last season’s Arabian Gulf League was only their eighth trophy in the club’s history.
Al Jazira have some catching up to do in the trophy count.
WHO’S GOT THE BETTER STRIKER?
Karim Benzema – notwithstanding recent criticism – has been continually rated as one of the best strikers in the world.
On current form, however, it may be the Al Jazira striker Ali Mabkhout who’s the more likely to get on the score sheet. He’s scored nearly a goal a game in 2017, and has endured none of the struggles currently befalling Benzema. Mabkhout is confident and in a rich vein of form. Benzema is not.
Is Mabkhout the safer bet to score on Wednesday?
FROM CHAMPIONS TO STRUGGLERS
Both Madrid and Al Jazira are champions of their respective leagues but haven’t had the best of times this season. Real’s struggles have been well-documented, of course. They’re eight points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona – a gap this early in the season has never been previously overcome – and they’ve failed to take the full three points in six out of their 15 league fixtures, a start that has seen them slump to fourth in the table.
Jazira are one place lower, having won only four of their opening ten league games. They’ve already lost as many games as they did the whole of last season (2) and dropped points six times as opposed to just four times last term.
Al Jazira’s keeper coach Manuel Almunia: "This game is a trophy for us already. It’s a game to remember for everyone; to play 90 minutes against one of the biggest in the world. This wouldn’t happen to too many people here. It will be a great day despite the result.” #ClubWC
— M•A•J (@UltraSuristic_) December 11, 2017
GOALS GALORE
Don’t be surprised if Wednesday’s clash turns into a goalfest. Both sides love to attack, as their title-winning campaigns showed last season. Madrid scored 104 goals in 38 league games, an average of 2.79 goals per game.
Al Jazira’s attacking form was not too far off. Led by top scorer Mabkhout, the league champions found the back of the net 72 times across 26 games, at 2.77 goals per game.
Madrid have the famous attack, but Al Jazira know their way to goal, too.
MANAGER BATTLE: JOURNEYMAN VS STAR MAN
Henk Ten Cate‘s coaching career has seen him go everywhere from Greece to China. He’s been an assistant at Chelsea and Barcelona, won cups in the Netherlands, resigned after just a month at Al-Ahli, and was recently close to being named the Dutch national team manager. That came on the back of his triumphant season with Al Jazira, but that was just Ten Cate’s fourth trophy during his long managerial career.
Zinedine Zidane has already surpassed that total. Last year’s La Liga triumph was his fourth trophy, in just a year-and-a-half since he was appointed Madrid manager – incidentally, just three days after Ten Cate was given the Al Jazira job. His count is now at 7, which is the joint third-most in Real Madrid history. An eighth at the Club World Cup would put him tied for second. It bears repeating: he’s only been a manager since last January.
🎂🦁🇦🇪
— #ClubWC 🇦🇪🏆 (@FIFAcom) December 9, 2017
"I've never lost a game on my birthday. The boys fought like lions."
It was definitely a happy birthday for @AlJazira_uae coach Henk Ten Cate!
His late gift? A #ClubWC meeting with @realmadriden 🎁 pic.twitter.com/p3pgFwtJKq
