MIAMI, Florida – 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League winners Monterrey will kick off their 2021 FIFA Club World Cup campaign on Saturday with a quarterfinal clash against Al Ahly of Egypt at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Saturday’s tilt with the 2020-21 CAF Champions League winners will be the third FCWC encounter between the two sides.
Monterrey defeated Al Ahly 2-0 in the Third Place Match of the 2012 edition and earned a 5-1 victory in the Fifth Place Match in 2013.
With the likes of FW Vincent Janssen and experienced MFs Arturo Gonzalez and Erick Aguirre, Rayados Head Coach Javier Aguirre should have plenty of punch going forward.
The winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal will advance to the semifinals to face 2021 Conmebol Copa Libertadores winners Palmeiras of Brazil.
Monterrey are seeking to equal the accomplishment of city rivals Tigres UANL, who became the first Concacaf club to reach the Final of the FCWC in the 2020 edition, ultimately narrowly falling to German giants Bayern Munich, 1-0.
The 2021 FCWC will mark Monterrey’s fifth appearance in the tournament, with their best previous finish coming in 2012 and 2019 when they finished in Third Place.
