Real Madrid make their entrance into the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup at the semifinal stage with Carlo Ancelotti’s side facing off with Al Ahly in Rabat.
Los Blancos are the most successful team in the competition’s history, with four titles, including success under Ancelotti back in 2014.
However, they have been hit by some key injury absences ahead of their first appearance in the competition since 2018, with Thibaut Courtois, Karim Benzema and Eder Militao all left behind in Madrid.
Al Ahly have been the surprise package of the tournament so far, after receiving a late call up due to Wydad Casablanca being nominated as the host nation’s representative, with wins over Auckland City and Seattle Sounders.
Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal await the winners in the final after they edged past Flamengo in the first semifinal game.
The Sporting News will be providing live updates and highlights for Real Madrid vs Al Ahly in their last four clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
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Real Madrid vs Al Ahly live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Real Madrid | 1 | — | — |
| Al Ahly | 0 | — | — |
Goals:
Vini Jr — Real Madrid — 43 mins
Valverde — Real Madrid — 47 mins
Maaloul — Al Ahyl — 65 mins
Real Madrid vs Al Ahly live updates, highlights from 2022 FIFA Club World Cup semifinal
65 mins: Al Ahly HAVE ONE BACK!!!!
Nerveless spot kick from Ali Maaloul to send Lunin the wrong way!!!
GAME ON!!!
*Video available in US
AS COOL AS YOU LIKE 🥶
And just like that @AlAhlyEnglish is back in this match! pic.twitter.com/97TDJBxEwp
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
63 mins: PENALTY AL AHLY
From nowhere…….Ah Ahly have a chance as Eduardo Camavinga catches Hussein El Shahat inside the box!!
60 mins: A double change for Al Ahly as Aliou Dieng and Sherif are replaced by Percy Tau and Hamdi Fathi,
⏱️61
Hamdy – Tau ⬇️
Sherif – Dieng ⬆️#ClubWC #YallaYaAhly pic.twitter.com/vAIo52oBDI— Al Ahly SC 🇬🇧 (@AlAhlyEnglish) February 8, 2023
57 mins: VAR check incoming as Vini Jr goes down under an untidy tackle from Metwaly!
No Penalty………..Al Ahly survive!
53 mins: Al Ahly look determined not to let Real Madrid just walk away from them as Sherif gets above Rudiger and heads wide.
47 mins: WHAT A START TO THE SECOND HALF!!!!! 2-0 REAL MADRID!!!!
Los Blancos race out of the blocks for the second period and Al Ahly have no response.
Rodrygo’s curling effort is beaten away by El Shenawy, but Valverde picks up the loose ball, dips past two tackles, and calmly rolls home a second!!
*Video available in US
Fede Valverde teaching a valuable lesson on always being first to the ball and never giving up on a play! 🇺🇾 pic.twitter.com/4ykXuUQSbu
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
Real Madrid are on their way to the final!
46 mins: WE ARE BACK UNDERWAY!!
No changes from either side at the break.
HALF TIME: Real Madrid 1 Al Ahly 0
Al Ahly have impressed in patches in Rabat, with two clear cut chances wasted, but Real Madrid have punished them right on half time, via Vini Jr’s clever finish.
That little chip was sublime 😍
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 8, 2023
Ancelotti is 45 minutes away from another final – unless Al Ahly can produce a second half fightback here.
43 mins: GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! 1-0 REAL MADRID!!!
Al Ahly are cruelly exposed by a ruthless move by Los Blancos.
Metwaly looks to step out of defence to clear a loose ball, but his misjudges the bounce, and Vini Jr is in like a flash to dink home the opener!!
*Video available in US
THE BRILLIANT BRAZILIAN 🇧🇷
Vinícius Júnior fires @realmadriden in front 1-0! pic.twitter.com/phaDSxa63F
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
38 mins: A half chance for Real Madrid as Fede Valverde latches on to a ball into the box, but he’s stretching, and that’s an easy take for El Shenawy.
33 mins: Al Ahly then show their attacking intent, as Hussein El Shahat wriggles past Rudiger, and forces a smart stop from Andriy Lunin.
WHAT A SAVE FROM LUNIN 🧱🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/rpxILi6W3b
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
30 mins: REAL MADRID……….SHOULD BE AHEAD!!
TWO PERFECT CHANCES………AND LOS BLANCOS MISS THEM BOTH!!!
Luka Modric slips Vinicius Jr though on goal but the Brazilian squeezes his effort just wide.
Rodrygo then presses Al Ahly into an error from the goal kick, slaloms in on El Shenawy’s goal, but he can only chip against the post!!!
*Video available in US
SO SO CLOSE FOR RODRYGO 🫢🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/xAJKevSEUE
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
26 mins: HUGE CHANCE FOR AL AHLY!!!
Mahmoud Metwaly does well to keep a deep cross alive inside the box, and Mohamed Abdelmonem gambles on the knockdown, but his header flashes over the bar!!
*Video available in US
Abdelmonem has a chance from the center of the box!@AlAhlyEnglish continue to apply the pressure early on 😤 pic.twitter.com/6qLw0ZxHP3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
A let off for Real Madrid as Aurelien Tchouameni tests El Shenawy at the other end
23 mins: Rodrygo threatens to burst in behind again, but Al Ahly get back to cover, and El Shenawy punches away Toni Kroos’ corner under pressure.
18 mins: A chance at the other end, as Al Ahly respond, but Mohamed Sherif blazes over!!! That was a REAL chance for the Egyptians!!
*Video available in US
👀 @AlAhlyEnglish finds a gap in Madrid’s back line and Mohamed Sherif from a difficult angle nearly puts his side in front! pic.twitter.com/Lzw3liDCuK
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 8, 2023
15 mins: First sight of goal for Real Madrid. Rodrygo’s clever run forces a corner, but Antonio Rudiger’s header from the set piece is easily held by Mohamed El Shenawy.
10 mins: Real Madrid are dominating possession, but struggling to break through a solid Al Ahly defence, as the game begins to settle.
5 mins: A busy start here from both sides, with Al Ahly working hard to shut Real Madrid down, but no chances in the opening stages.
KICK OFF: WE ARE OFF IN RABAT!!!
1⃣🚀 #ClubWC KICK-OFF! LET’S GOO!
▶️ @AlAhlyEnglish 🆚 @realmadriden
💻 https://t.co/vI8SOvhCt8 pic.twitter.com/MWhCPnCw6N— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 8, 2023
15 mins from kickoff: We are almost underway here in Rabat, as Real Madrid bid for a fifth final spot, and Al Ahly aim to go one better than their 2021 semifinal defeat to Bayern Munich.
🔊 ¡HALA MADRID! 🔊
🗣️ #Madridistas pic.twitter.com/Wu60iMo9sA— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 8, 2023
30 mins from kickoff: LUKAAAAAAAAA!!!
Luka Modric was on target in Real Madrid’s 4-1 FIFA Club World Cup final win over Al-Ain in 2018 and only he and Toni Kroos retain their starting place from four years ago.
*Video available in US
LUKA MODRIC!
The best player of 2018 scores his first goal of the season in the Club World Cup final! pic.twitter.com/jK0OJXt9bv
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 22, 2018
1 hr from kickoff: Al Hilal have created history as the first Saudi team to reach the final – but who will they be facing on February 11?
Al-Hilal beat Flamengo to head to the Club World Cup final 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/zIpKoGm4hM
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 7, 2023
1hr 15 mins from kickoff: TEAM NEWS IS IN!!!
Ancelotti goes with his big guns in Rabat!
David Alaba comes into defence in place of Dani Carvajal, with Nacho Fernandez switching to right back.
The evergreen Luka Modric and Toni Kroos start in midfield, as Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos drop out, and Fede Valverde moves into attack.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro 𝗫𝗜 inicial 🆚 @AlAhly !#ClubWC pic.twitter.com/fFtKUMdRSA
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 8, 2023
Four changes from Al Ahly from their 1-0 semifinal win over Seattle as they aim for a shock result against Los Blancos.
Our Eagles for tonight 💪🏻🦅#ClubWC#YallaYaAhly pic.twitter.com/As5PGyACfP
— Al Ahly SC 🇬🇧 (@AlAhlyEnglish) February 8, 2023
1 hr 30 mins from kickoff: Los Blancos have enjoyed major success on the world stage before – will tonight be another BIG night for Los Blancos?
🔝⚽ Enjoy some of our BEST Intercontinental Cup and #ClubWC GOALS! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/OGx1hoy0Ct
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 8, 2023
2 hrs from kickoff: Morocco head coach Walid Regragui popped by Real Madrid training ahead of the semifinal – maybe with some tips for Ancelotti?
🇲🇦🤝⚽ El INSIDE de Walid Regragui, seleccionador de Marruecos, en nuestro entrenamiento de ayer.#ClubWC pic.twitter.com/tcGYtehiye
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 8, 2023
Real Madrid vs Al Ahly confirmed lineups
Those injury enforced absences have disrupted Ancelotti’s plans, but he opts for a strong line up, with Luka Modric, Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius Jr all starting.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): 13-Lunin (GK) — 6-Nacho, 22-Ruidger, 4-Alaba, 12-Camavinga — 8-Kroos, 18-Tchouameni, 10-Modric — 15-Valverde, 21-Rodrygo, 21-Vinicius Jr
Al Ahly head coach Marcelo Koller has shuffled his options for their opening two games with Mohamed Magdy potentially coming in to start after scoring the winner off the bench against Seattle.
Al Ahly (4-5-1): 1-El-Shenawy (GK) — 30-Hany, 4-Metwaly, 24-Abdelmonem, 21-Maaloul — 9-Kader, 14-El-Shahat, 15-Dieng, 17-Al-Sulaya, 19-Magdy — 10-Sherif
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How to watch Real Madrid vs Al Ahly
Below are the details on how to watch this game in the world’s major territories:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Wed, Feb. 8 | 14:00 ET | Fox Sports 2, Fox Deportes | fuboTV, Fox Sports Go |
| UK | Wed, Feb. 8 | 19:00 GMT | — | FIFA+ |
| Australia | Thu, Feb. 9 | 06:00 AEST | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| Canada | Wed, Feb. 8 | 14:00 ET | — | FIFA+ |
| India | Wed, Feb. 8 | 23:30 IST | — | FIFA+ |
| New Zealand | Thu, Feb. 9 | 08:00 NZST | Sky Sport 1 | Sky Go NZ |
| Malaysia | Thu, Feb. 9 | 03:00 MT | — | FIFA+ |
| Singapore | Thu, Feb. 9 | 03:00 SST | — | FIFA+ |
| Hong Kong | Thu, Feb. 9 | 03:00 HKST | — | FIFA+ |
This Club World Cup semifinal will be broadcast on television in the United States on Fox Sports 2, while SBS has the rights in Australia.
For all territories without a designated broadcaster, this match can be found on FIFA’s streaming service FIFA+.
