Al Ahly vs Al Ittihad prediction: WORLD: FIFA Club World Cup betting tips on match 2023-12-14 18:00.
The quarter-final stage of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) sees two Arab titans go head-to-head in Jeddah as African champions, Al Ahly of Egypt, meet Saudi Arabian hopefuls Al Ittihad. Whilst Al Ahly are the designated āhomeā team here, Jeddah is in fact the home city of Al Ittihad and as such, the local support may well go against the Egyptians, who are bidding to extend their eight-game unbeaten run across competitions (W3, D5).
Never before has an African club won the CWC, with the only runners-up medals heading back to the continent in 2010 and 2013. Even so, Al Ahly are very experienced in this tournament and have played 22 games in it, more games than any other side (W9, L13). And with their last such game against a Saudi Pro League club ending in a stunning 4-0 win over 2022 finalists Al Hilal, history would suggest they have what it takes to advance.
A date with Fluminense awaits the winner of this tie, and Al Ittihad will believe they can be the ones to do it after brushing Auckland City aside 3-0 in the opening game with goals from former World Cup and UEFA Champions League winner NāGolo Kante, and 2022 Ballon Dāor winner Karim Benzema capping off a brilliant day. That was a perfect way to bounce back from a league defeat last week which left them 16 points adrift of the leaders.
Al Ittihad now hope to become the first Asian representative to lift the CWC after the continent produced runners-up in 2016, 2018, and 2022. A run of five wins from their last seven games, despite keeping just one clean sheet, should boost their confidence of progression, but with any potential final likely to be against European treble winners Manchester City, perhaps any talk of lifting the prestigious trophy is a little premature.
Players to watch: No player has featured in more CWC games than Al Ahly wideman Hussein El Shahat (12), and each of his last nine goals have curiously put his side 1-0 or 2-0 up. He will have a real job on his hands to outdo Benzema, who has scored 11 competitive goals for Al Ittihad this season, five of which were match openers.
Hot stat: Al Ittihad have scored at least twice before half-time in four of their last five games.