2018 FIFA Club World Cup
12-22 December
United Arab Emirates
Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium – Al Ain
Zayed Sports City Stadium – Abu Dhabi
Real Madrid will chase a hat-trick of Club World Cup titles when they participate in the 2018 edition, which kicks off on Wednesday 12 December in the United Arab Emirates.
‘Los Blancos’ earned their place in the prestigious international tournament thanks to their triumph in the UEFA Champions League earlier this year, with the Spanish side famously defeating Liverpool in the final.
Santiago Solari’s team will only enter the tournament at the semifinal stage on December 19, when they face either Asian Champions League winners Kashima Antlers (Japan) or CONCACAF Champions League victors Guadalajara (Mexico) – those two will meet in a second round clash four days prior.
The other second round clash sees Africa’s Esperance de Tunis take on either local side Al Ain or New Zealand’s Team Wellington. The ‘Blood and Gold’ from Tunisia will hope to advance into the semifinal and face Argentine giants River Plate.
River won the 2018 Copa Libertadores by defeating hated rivals Boca Juniors 5-3 on aggregate – such was the violence and controversy surrounding the clash, that the second leg was held at the Santiago Bernabeu in Spain to avoid any further safety issues.
The Argentine giants will be aiming to become the first team from their country to win the Club World Cup, and break a five-year stranglehold on the tournament by the European representatives.
2018 Club World Cup fixtures
Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain:
First round
Match 1 – 12 December – Al Ain v Team Wellington – 17h30 CAT
Second round
Match 2 – 15 December – Esperance de Tunis v Winner Match 1 – 18h30 CAT
Match 3 – 15 December – Kashima Antlers v Guadalajara – 15h00 CAT
Match for fifth place
Match 4 – 18 December – Loser Match 2 v Loser Match 3 – 15h30 CAT
Semifinal
Match 5 – 18 December – River Plate v Winner Match 2 – 18h30 CAT
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi:
Semifinal
Match 6 – 19 December – Winner Match 3 v Real Madrid – 18h30 CAT
Match for third place
Match 7 – 22 December – Loser Match 6 v Loser Match 5 – 15h30 CAT
Final
Match 8 – 22 December – Winner Match 6 v Winner Match 5 – 18h30 CAT
Club World Cup – past winners
2017 – Real Madrid
2016 – Real Madrid
2015 – Barcelona
2014 – Real Madrid
2013 – Bayern Munich
2012 – Corinthians
2011 – Barcelona
2010 – Internazionale
2009 – Barcelona
2008 – Manchester United
2007 – AC Milan
2006 – Internacional
2005 – Sao Paulo
2000 – Corinthians
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