Stern test awaits Al Jazira as they take on Al Hilal in Fifa Club World Cup

UAE champions face Saudi Arabian powerhouse on Sunday with the winner of the clash progressing to semi-final against Chelsea

Al Hilal's Gustavo Cuellar trains at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi ahead of the match against Al Jazira in the Fifa Club World Cup. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Hilal train for their Club World Cup match against Al Jazira.

Al Hilal head coach Leonardo Jardim oversees training on Saturday.

Al Hilal's Mohammed Jahfali trains in Abu Dhabi.

Al Hilal train ahead of their game against Al Jazira in the Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2021 at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Hilal train for their Club World Cup match against Al Jazira.

Al Hilal will take on Al Jazira on Sunday.

Al Hilal train at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

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.”