Ahly Outclass Ittihad Jeddah, Securing Club World Cup Semifinal Berth

Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour celebrates after scoring against Ittihad Jeddah. Photo: Ahly X account.

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Egyptian powerhouse Ahly showcased their tactical prowess as they triumphed 3-1 over a formidable Ittihad Jeddah side on Friday, securing a spot in the Club World Cup semifinals.

Ali Maaloul opened the scoring with a confident penalty in the 21st minute, followed by goals from Hussein El Shahat at the 59th minute and Emam Ashour at the 62nd minute. Despite a late consolation goal by French striker Karim Benzema in injury time, Ahly's dominance prevailed.

The defeat was a stunning setback for the home crowd, hoping for success with star players like Golden Ball winner Benzema, alongside Premier League talents Ngolo Kante and Fabinho.

This victory marked Ahly's fifth entry into the Club World Cup semifinals, setting the stage for an intriguing clash against Brazil's Copa Libertadores champions, Fluminense, scheduled for Monday.

Right from the start, the Red Devils asserted their strength, nearly breaking the deadlock early in the game. However, valiant efforts from Egyptian defender and Ittihad Jeddah's vice-captain, Ahmed Hegazi, thwarted attempts by Mahmoud "Kahraba" Abdel-Moneim and Hussein El-Shahat.

A turning point came in the 20th minute when Ahly was awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Defender Zakaria Hawsawi handled the ball inside the box, denying Kahraba an opportunity. Maaloul confidently converted the penalty in the 21st minute, putting Ahly in the lead.

Despite Ittihad Jeddah's relentless efforts, Ahly's defensive resilience, supported by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawy's exceptional saves against threats from Romarinho and Igor Coronado, preserved their slender lead.

El Shennawy showcased brilliance again by saving a penalty kick from Benzema just before the break.

The second half witnessed Ittihad Jeddah pushing forward aggressively, only to be punished by Ahly's clinical forward play.

Kahraba's instrumental setup allowed El Shahat to curl a magnificent shot into the far post at the 59th minute, followed by Ashour's close-range finish at the 62nd minute, marking his Club World Cup debut in style.

Despite dominating possession, Ittihad struggled to create meaningful opportunities, hindered by Ahly's resolute defense determined to secure victory.

In a dramatic late moment, Hegazi's powerful header struck the post in the 91st minute, falling to Benzema, who netted into an empty goal.

The game concluded on a tense note for Al Ahly as French striker Anthony Modeste received a red card in the 90th minute, reducing them to 10 men just moments after his introduction.

Man Utd Faces Tough Challenge Against Premier League Leaders Liverpool

Liverpool are top of the Premier League, with 11 wins in 16 matches AFP

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This weekend, Manchester United faces a daunting task as they travel to Anfield, the home of bitter rivals Liverpool, hoping to avoid another humbling defeat. The signs are not favorable for United, who left Anfield last season after a 7-0 drubbing. Currently facing a Liverpool team sitting at the top of the Premier League and brimming with confidence, Manchester United, led by Erik ten Hag, is already grappling with a challenging season.

Dumped out of Europe this week by Bayern Munich, Manchester United has lost 12 of their 24 games in all competitions this season. Struggling offensively, vulnerable defensively, and dealing with a growing injury list, United finds itself in a precarious position. Despite the inconsistency of the teams around them, they are currently sixth in the Premier League, only three points behind Tottenham and six behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

However, their recent record against Liverpool is concerning, with four losses in the last five meetings, conceding 21 goals in the process. In stark contrast, Liverpool is sharp in front of goal, full of self-belief, and has displayed a never-say-die attitude, earning them 18 points from losing positions this season.

Erik ten Hag has urged his side to focus on finishing in the top four to qualify for the Champions League next season. Still, if results don't go their way this weekend, they could find themselves nine points off fourth spot, slipping out of contention.

Chelsea Seeks a Way Out of Slump

While the spotlight has been on Manchester United, Chelsea, under Mauricio Pochettino, is also grappling with challenges in their injury-hit squad. Currently 12th in the table after three defeats in their last four matches, Chelsea finds themselves closer to the relegation zone than the top of the table. Despite spending over £1 billion ($1.25 billion) in the past three transfer windows, Pochettino believes Chelsea needs to dip into the transfer window again in January.

With captain Reece James back on the treatment table alongside a list of other senior players, including Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, and Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea faces a critical moment. On paper, the upcoming match against bottom side Sheffield United seems like a golden opportunity for Chelsea to return to winning ways. However, Sheffield United, under newly returned Chris Wilder, secured their second win of the season last week against Brentford.

Chelsea's home form adds to the challenge, having won just two of their eight league matches at Stamford Bridge.

Dyche Proves to be the Man for Everton Crisis

Despite Everton being docked 10 points by the Premier League last month for breaching financial rules, they have managed to lift themselves four points above the relegation zone with three straight wins. Everton has won nine out of their past 13 games in all competitions, displaying impressive form. Manager Sean Dyche, pleased with his side's performance, acknowledges that there is still "a lot of work to be done" as they prepare to face Burnley, where Dyche managed for 10 years between 2012 and 2022.

The ongoing appeal against the points deduction hasn't dampened spirits at Goodison Park, with fans vocally opposing the severity of the penalty. Everton's recent success has provided supporters with plenty to cheer about.

Upcoming Fixtures (GMT)

Friday:

- Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham (20:00)

Saturday:

- Bournemouth vs. Luton

- Chelsea vs. Sheffield United

- Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace

- Newcastle vs. Fulham

- Burnley vs. Everton (17:30)

Sunday:

- Arsenal vs. Brighton

- Brentford vs. Aston Villa

- West Ham vs. Wolves

- Liverpool vs. Manchester United (16:30)

Bayern Munich Faces Tough Challenge Against Surging Stuttgart

Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane has 18 goals in 13 games this season. AFP

AFP, fbareana.com

The reigning Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, are set to rebound from last weekend's defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt as they host surprise title contenders Stuttgart on Sunday. The clash at the Allianz Arena will showcase a battle between two prolific strikers, Bayern's Harry Kane and Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy.

Following their 5-1 loss to Frankfurt, Thomas Tuchel's Bayern is now four points behind early leaders Bayer Leverkusen, albeit with a game in hand. Stuttgart, just one point adrift, aims to surpass Bayern in the table and continue their surprising title challenge.

Harry Kane, a summer signing from Tottenham, has been exceptional for Bayern, scoring 18 goals in 13 league matches. On the other side, Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy has netted 16 goals in 12 Bundesliga appearances, marking his best tally for a single season.

Guirassy's impressive goal-scoring form has played a pivotal role in Stuttgart's remarkable turnaround under coach Sebastian Hoeness. The team, previously facing relegation, now sits third in the Bundesliga and poses a serious challenge to the giants like Bayern.

Hoeness, the nephew of former Bayern president Uli Hoeness, took charge of Stuttgart in April, leading them to the German Cup semi-finals and securing their top-flight status through a relegation playoff victory over Hamburg.

Bayern's recent 5-1 defeat was a setback, but they managed to bounce back with a 1-0 Champions League win against Manchester United. However, they face injury concerns, with Kingsley Coman joining Serge Gnabry and Noussair Mazraoui on the sidelines.

Stuttgart, unbeaten against Leverkusen this season, poses a serious threat to Bayern's title aspirations. The match is anticipated to be a challenging encounter, with Bayern acknowledging Stuttgart as a formidable opponent.

In other fixtures this weekend, Bayer Leverkusen takes on Eintracht Frankfurt, while Borussia Dortmund faces Augsburg, and RB Leipzig hosts Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Player to Watch: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)

English teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens continues to shine as a standout performer in an inconsistent Borussia Dortmund side. His form and contributions will be closely watched in the upcoming fixtures.

Chelsea's $1 Billion Spending Spree Fails to Improve Performance; Pochettino Eyes January Transfers

Chelsea players reacts after a match

Chelsea's extraordinary expenditure of $1 billion on player acquisitions has, surprisingly, not translated into improved performance. The team, once the reigning European champion, finds itself in 12th place in the Premier League, mirroring its position from the previous season.

Despite a massive spending spree of $280 million in the summer of 2022, an additional $350 million in January, and over $400 million in the most recent offseason, Chelsea remains in midtable, prompting manager Mauricio Pochettino to acknowledge the need for further investment.

"After the transfer window opens, (we will) see what we can do," stated Pochettino following Chelsea's 2-0 loss to Everton, a match that exposed underlying problems within the team.

Despite signing 29 players since May 2022, Chelsea's squad appears deficient in key areas. Pochettino has faced challenges with a lack of fit senior strikers, relying on the relatively inexperienced Nicolas Jackson. Defensive issues persist, with the backline often led by the 39-year-old Thiago Silva. Injuries to key players, such as Reece James and Ben Chilwell, have added to the team's woes.

While central midfield boasts quality players like Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, the team has struggled to establish a cohesive attacking force.

Pochettino emphasized the need for patience with the Chelsea project funded by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, suggesting that strategic and intelligent decisions in the transfer market are crucial for improvement.

The prospect of missing out on the Champions League for a second consecutive season raises concerns, and questions loom over the effectiveness of Chelsea's bold transfer strategy. The upcoming festive schedule presents an opportunity for a turnaround, but if Chelsea remains in the bottom half of the standings into 2024, serious scrutiny and doubts about the team's direction will likely emerge.

Liverpool Defender: Salah Deserves All He Has Achieved

Mohamed Salah - Crystal Palace and Liverpool

Liverpool's defender, Konstantinos Tsimikas, praised his teammate Mohamed Salah, who continues to make history with the club.

Salah scored his 200th goal for Liverpool on Saturday against Crystal Palace, reaching this milestone in 327 matches and solidifying his fifth position among Liverpool's all-time top scorers.

Tsimikas, in statements to Liverpool's official website, said, "It's crazy how good Mohamed Salah is, both as a player and as a person."

He added, "He always works hard and consistently tries to do more, especially in finishing attacks. He deserves everything he has achieved."

The Greek international continued, "I am genuinely happy for him and happy to have him alongside me in one team."

Salah has now joined the ranks of the top scorers in the English Premier League, with 150 goals, tying with former Liverpool and Manchester United star Michael Owen. Alan Shearer, the Newcastle legend, holds the record for the all-time top scorer in the English league with 260 goals.

Salah is 12 goals away from the ninth position held by Jermain Defoe and 13 goals away from Robbie Fowler in eighth place. Furthermore, he trails Arsenal's all-time leading scorer Thierry Henry, who occupies the seventh position, by 25 goals.

Salah's remarkable achievement places him among the elite goal-scorers in English football history.

Girona Attempts to Manage Expectations Despite Impressive Start in La Liga

Girona s Spanish defender #11 Valery Fernandez celebrates with teammates after scoring his team s third goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Girona FC at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on December 10, 2023. AFP 

Girona, currently leading La Liga, is striving to temper expectations after a remarkable start

to the season that positioned them as genuine contenders for the Spanish league title. Their recent 4-2 victory against defending champion Barcelona solidified their position at the top, hinting at their potential to compete with the traditional powerhouses of Spanish soccer.

Despite this success, coach Míchel Sánchez is cautious about setting overly ambitious goals for the team. While acknowledging that Girona has surpassed the initial objective of avoiding relegation, he emphasizes that winning the league is not the primary goal. Míchel believes the team cannot outpace Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid in the long run. He stated, "I don’t think we can keep up with Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid and win the league. It’s not our objective."

Girona has secured victories in 13 out of 16 Spanish league matches, making them the team with the most wins in the top five European leagues. Currently, they hold a two-point lead over Madrid and a seven-point advantage over both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Míchel commended his team for fearlessly challenging Barcelona, showcasing the character and attitude needed to pursue loftier goals.

While acknowledging the historic achievements of the team this year, Míchel remains pragmatic about their chances of winning the league, stating, "But winning it all still is something too far away to think about. When we get to the final third of the season, we will see how things are and what our goals will be."

Partly owned by Manchester City's Abu Dhabi ownership, Girona finished 10th in the league last season after three consecutive years in the second tier. Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández praised Girona, saying, "Girona deserves a lot of credit. It has a great team. It’s the best team I’ve seen play so far."

Girona, boasting the league's best attack with 38 goals, has been a consistent presence near the top of the standings from the beginning. While they faced some doubts after a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid in September, it remains their only defeat of the season. Girona defender Miguel Gutierrez expressed optimism, stating, "We are in the lead, and we will keep fighting to stay in the lead. We have been doing things well, and we need to continue like this."

In contrast, Xavi admitted that the loss to Girona represented a step backward for Barcelona in their rebuilding process. He commented, "This is a Barcelona team that is being rebuilt. And this is part of it. You take a step backward to be able to take two steps forward."

Looking ahead, Barcelona faces Valencia in the Spanish league, while Girona hosts Alaves. Additionally, Barcelona visits Antwerp in the Champions League, having already secured a place in the knockout stage after two seasons of falling short.