Brazilian giants Palmeiras and Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly battled to a 0-0 draw on Thursday in a tightly contested Group A match of the FIFA Club World Cup held at MetLife Stadium. The result leaves both teams with two points from their opening two games, further tightening the race for a spot in the knockout stages.
Both sides came into the match having drawn their opening encounters 0-0, and the trend of goalless draws unfortunately continued for the spectators in New Jersey. The match was a tactical affair, with neither team able to find the clinical touch in front of goal.
Palmeiras, the famed club from São Paulo, enjoyed periods of sustained pressure but were unable to break down a well-organized Al Ahly defense. The Cairo-based club, known for their continental success, were equally resolute, frustrating the Brazilian attack throughout the 90 minutes.
This encounter was the latest chapter in a growing intercontinental rivalry between the two clubs. They had previously met in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup third-place playoff, where Al Ahly emerged victorious in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw. The following year, Palmeiras secured a 2-0 victory in the semi-finals of the same competition.
With both teams now sitting on two points in Group A, the pressure will be immense for their final group stage matches as they look to secure passage to the next round of the prestigious tournament.
