| Manchester City vs Urawa Red Diamonds | |
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MATCH INFO |
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MATCH :
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Manchester City vs Urawa Red
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COMPETITION :
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FIFA Club World Cup Semi-final
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| DATE: |
19-12-2023
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TIME:
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11.30 PM IST (UTC +5:30)
10.00 PM UAE
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STADIUM
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King Abdullah Sports City
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Predicted Line-Up
Urawa Red Diamonds possible starting lineup:
Nishikawa; Sakai, Scholz, Hoibraten, Ogiwara; Iwao, Ito; Schalk, Yasui, Koizumi; Kante
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gomez; Nunes, Kovacic; Bobb, Silva, Grealish; Alvarez
Injury Woes and Squad Adjustments Mark Urawa and Man City's Path to the Semi-Finals
Urawa's Journey:
In a thrilling semi-final clash against Leon, Urawa emerged victorious, securing a spot in the next stage of the competition. However, the triumph came at a price, with left-back Takahiro Akimoto, right-back Takahiro Sekine, and winger Tomoaki Okubo all succumbing to injuries in the second half of the game.
Thankfully, Urawa's manager, Skorza, has a solid full-back roster to navigate the setbacks. The return of former Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai, who has recently recovered from a knee injury, provides a timely solution to potentially deputize for the injured Sekine. Additionally, matchwinner Schalk, who made a significant impact in the previous match, is set to replace the injured Okubo in the final third. Joining him will be the retiring Jose Kante, adding an emotional element to the team's lineup.
Man City's Injury Concerns:
On the other side of the spectrum, Manchester City's journey to the semi-finals is not without hurdles. Manager Guardiola faces a trio of injury concerns. Star player Kevin De Bruyne, sidelined for three months with a hamstring problem, has been making strides in his recovery but remains uncertain for the upcoming semi-final.
Further complicating matters, Erling Haaland (foot) and Jeremy Doku (muscle) were absent from a recent draw against Palace. With their unavailability confirmed for the semi-final, Julian Alvarez is expected to lead City's attacking line.
Guardiola, known for tactical flexibility, is likely to make strategic changes for the crucial semi-final encounter. Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic, Kalvin Phillips, and Stefan Ortega are all hopefuls for a spot in the reshaped lineup.
As both teams navigate their way through the challenges, the upcoming semi-final promises to be a spectacle of resilience, adaptability, and strategic maneuvering.
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