After a fairly comfortable start in the Fifa Club World Cup, Al Jazira now face Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al Hilal for a chance to face Premier League giants Chelsea in the semi-final.
The UAE champions outclassed Oceania’s representatives AS Pirae 4-1 in the opening game of the competition and meet Al Hilal in the second round at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium on Sunday.
Incidentally, the two teams are appearing in the Club World Cup for the second time. They have crossed paths four times, all in the AFC Asian Champions League, in which the Saudi side holds a 3-0 head-to-head lead with one game drawn.
Jazira manager Marcel Keizer is aware of the challenge and was more hopeful than confident of their chances.
“We know it’s going to be a difficult game but I have lots of individuals in my team to be a fairly good and exciting game, I hope,” the Dutchman said during the pre-match conference at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday.
“For us, it will be the same as we always do. Hopefully we can score a couple of goals but we know it’s difficult.”
Hilal were held to a scoreless draw by Al Batin in their last game in the Saudi Pro League and are currently lying in third in the league table.
“I can’t judge them from what they do in their league,” Marcel said of their current form in the domestic competition.
“I only know that I saw some games, like I always do, when I prepare my team. We know they are a good team. They have seven foreigners and they are champions of Asia.”
Jazira weren’t stretched by the Tahiti side in the opening match of the Club World Cup but will have to raise their game considerably on Sunday.
“For me, I had two targets in that game,” Keizer said of their win over Pirae.
“The first was to win of course and then try to give some rest to the players who returned the day after playing Iran in the World Cup qualifier.
“Luckily it wasn’t a difficult game. We face another tough game against Hilal.”
Milos Kosanovic, Jazira’s Serbian centre-back, added: “It’s a big game tomorrow. We know everything about them.
“I think everyone is focused and will give their maximum. I’m very confident of my team. It’s going to be a difficult game for us but we are also a good team.”
Leonardo Jardim, Hilal’s Portuguese manager, said the game against Jazira as an important one with a semi-final spot against Chelsea at stake.
“It goes without saying we have prepared the best way we can and we’ll play with our best line-up to show everyone why we are the Asian champions,” he said.
“We know Jazira are a pretty good team. However, we are not going to change our brand of football. There are no injury concerns for the team at the moment and all players on international duty have returned and ready for this game.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
NBA FINALS SO FAR
(Toronto lead 3-2 in best-of-seven series)
Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109
Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109
Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123
Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105
Game 5 Raptors 105 Warriors 106
Game 6 Thursday, at Oakland
Game 7 Sunday, at Toronto (if needed)
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MATCH INFO
What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru
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Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
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Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)
Monday Celta Vigo v Cadiz (midnight)
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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