QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Record double ton from Joe Root strengthens England’s grip on Chennai Test SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 paGE 14 StaGE set FOR star-stuDDED seMI-FInals Brazil’s Palmeiras meet Mexico’s Tigres UNAL in first semis today TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA AL Rayyan will become the fo- cal point of the football world on Sunday and Monday (Feb 7 and 8) when the Qatar World Cup 2022 venues – Education City Stadium and Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium – play host to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020. The last-four action gets under way on Sunday, with Palmeiras of Brazil taking on Mexico’s Tigres UANL. Bayern Munich, who ar- rived on Sunday, and Al Ahly SC of Egypt will contest the second semi-final, to be played on Monday. The South America cham- pions Palmeiras and Tigres are both newcomers to the com- petition and have never played each other before. Despite their recent Copa Libertadores triumph, the Bra- zilian side have been struggling in their domestic league of late, Players of Palmeiras after their Copa Libertadores triumph at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 30. The Brazilian Tigres’ forward Andre-Pierre Gignac and the star in the FIFA Club World Cup having drawn their last two side, who have been struggling in their domestic league of late, will look to go past Tigres UNAL in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final second round match against South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai at the Ahmad Bin Ali matches and lost the two before at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Sunday. (AFP) Stadium on Thursday. (AFP) that. That winless run has left O Verdao sixth in the table and they will be hoping to turn their form around fast in Qatar and secure a place in next Thurs- day’s Club World Cup final. Their Mexican opponents beat Ulsan Hyundai in their opening match of the tourna- ment and are banking on the goalscoring prowess of Andre- Pierre Gignac. The French Today’s Matches front man scored both his side’s goals in that match and 5pm: Tigers UANL vs Ulsan Hyundai (At Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium) is in excellent form. “We know what Palmeiras 8.30pm: Al Duhail vs Al Ahly (At Education City Stadium) represent and that they’re Lib- Brazilian club SE Palmeiras’ fans during the team’s arrival in Qatar. A Tigres’ supporter waves the Mexican flag ahead of the FIFA Club ertadores champions, which I World Cup second round match between UANL Tigres and Korea’s know all about, being a Brazil- ourselves against some of the courtesy of a powerful header Ulsan Hyundai at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday. (AFP) alyse them to see what we can As for Al Ahly, they are ian. We’ll confront them like leading teams in the world.” by Kim Keehee. do against them,” said Gignac. hopeful of upsetting the Ger- we did Ulsan. With respect; no Earlier, Gignac sound- Despite this rude awaken- And if that were not enough, but tonight we faced a really Meanwhile, European man side after beating Al Du- more, no less,” stated Ricardo ed a warning saying, “We ing, it was the Mexican side Gignac’s opening strike, steered good team. The Koreans played champions Bayern Munich will hail in the previous round. Ferretti, Tigres coach. know we’re capable of making that were smiling at the final in from close range after Diego a great game and had big, go into their semi-final meet- Coach Pitso Mosimane Riding on Copa Libertado- history.” whistle thanks to Gignac. The Reyes flicked a corner into his strong players – I was expect- ing with Al Ahly SC without the will be looking to Mohamed res success, Palmeiras coach Tigres UANL got off to a Frenchman delivered the two path, was the 400th goal in ing them to be smaller in stat- services of Leon Goretzka and Magdy, better known as Af- Abel Ferreira said, ““This is a shaky start in their FIFA Club goals that allowed Los Felinos Club World Cup history, an- ure. They were also very good Javi Martinez, who both have sha, to fire his team’s chal- very important tournament World Cup Qatar 2020 opener to turn the game around before other impressive statistic in the on the ball. Now we have to face coronavirus, and goalkeeper lenge. Player and coach have for all Palmeiras fans and we against Ulsan Hyundai, falling half-time and progress to the striker’s glittering career. a different kind of opponent in Alexander Nuebel, who is out been talking extensively in are looking forward to testing behind after just 24 minutes semi-finals. “Every match is different Palmeiras, so we’re going to an- with an injured ankle. training this week. Al Duhail, Ulsan Hyundai seek to end PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa beat Arsenal to go eighth, Nine-man Newcastle down Southampton their FIFA CWC campaign on a high LONDON: Aston Villa scored early and held on to beat Arsenal 1-0 on Saturday, putting them up to eighth in the Premier League. Ollie AFC/TNN their participation in the Watkins scored the only goal after just two minutes, the three points DOHA 2012 edition ending with two lifting them above Tottenham in the table, while Arsenal remained 10th. defeats as the Korean side Newcastle held on to beat Southampton 3-2 despite finishing with ULSAN Hyundai FC and Al finished sixth. nine men while Burnley and Brighton drew 1-1. Duhail SC will be aiming to This may tempt Hong to Manchester United take on Everton in Saturday’s evening match, end their FIFA Club World make changes to the starting knowing victory will take them level on points with leaders Manches- Cup Qatar 2020 campaign lineup although the Korea ter City, who play at champions Liverpool on Sunday. on a high when the two Asian Republic legend said after Watkins put Villa in front after just two minutes at Villa Park sides meet in the play-off for the Tigres UANL tie that he and Arsenal could not find a ayw through for an equaliser, despite fifth place at the Ahmad Bin was satisfied with the perfor- throwing everything at their opponents. “I said to them on Wednes- Ali Stadium on Sunday. mance but rued conceding day they had gone away from the values of being a good team-mate Both suffered narrow de- twice from set-pieces. and the work-rate – and we saw that back today,” Villa manager Dean feats in their respective sec- Al Duhail, meanwhile, Smith said. Newacstle were 2-0 up within 26 minutes through Joe ond round ties with 2020 AFC showed improvement in the Willock and Miguel Almiron against Southampton, who were looking Champions League winners Ul- second half after a slow first to recover from their 9-0 drubbing at Manchester United last time san Hyundai edged 2-1 by Mexi- 45 minutes and Lamouchi will out. Takumi Minamino, on loan from Liverpool, pulled one back, only co’s Tigres UANL while reigning be counting on his players to for Almiron to add a second for Newcastle before half-time. (DPA) Qatar Stars League champions maintain that form against Ul- Al Duhail were defeated 1-0 by san Hyundai. Egypt’s Al Ahly SC. The Al Duhail players Despite their respective admitted they were disap- defeats, Ulsan Hyundai head pointed with their first half coach Hong Myung-bo and his performance against Al Ahly, Al Duhail counterpart Sabri with star striker Almoez Ali Lamouchi were generally sat- saying his team had given Af- isfied with the performances Al Duhail players during a training session on the eve of their FIFA Club World Cup 2020 5th Place Playoff rican champions Al Ahly too of their sides and both will be clash with South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai on Saturday. much respect. expecting more on Sunday. With both sides aiming to “We will work hard to the more settled as the Qatar had lifted the AFC Champions yong and defender Hong Chul finish on a high, the stage is set achieve victory in our next Stars League season is midway League trophy for the second did not travel to Qatar as they for an exciting clash between match against Ulsan Hyun- through while Ulsan Hyundai time, is also having to deal are nursing injuries. the two Asian sides. dai,” he said. are preparing for the 2021 K with a squad that has seen The defeat to Tigres In what is the first com- League season. strikers Junior Negrao and UANL meant Ulsan Hyundai 5TH Place Playoff: Ulsan Hyun- Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (right) scores the opening goal past petitive meeting between Hong, appointed head Bjorn Johnsen leaving club have yet to win a match at the dai FC v Al Duhail SC (6pm at Arsenal goalkeeper Mat Ryan at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, the two sides, Al Duhail look coach after Ulsan Hyundai while midfielderL ee Chung- FIFA Club World Cup, with Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium) on Saturday. (AFP) 12 Sunday, February 7, 2021 Sports Bayern Munich arrive in Doha for FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 The Bayern Munich players (left) are welcomed by fans at the Hamad International Airport in Doha on Saturday. UEFA Champions League winners to meet Al Ahly im semis on Monday TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK giants completes the tourna- Stadium, while Al Ahly edged the tournament in 2013 when DOHA ment’s six-team line-up, with pasted Al Duhail 1-0 at Educa- they beat Raja Casablanca 2-0 Ulsan Hyundai FC (Korea Re- tion City Stadium.