Palmeiras' standout player is rising star Estevão. The young forward, who will transfer to Chelsea after the Club World Cup, is eager to make another mark in the club’s history.

After scoring 19 goals and delivering 12 assists in 50 matches in 2024, Estevão is having an even stronger 2025. Across all competitions, he averages 2.66 shots and 1 shot on target per game.

In the Libertadores, his numbers are even more impressive. In five matches, he recorded four goals, one assist, 15 shots, and nine shots on target — proving that he thrives in international matches.

Against Porto in the opener, Estevão had a solid game. Over 90 minutes, he attempted three shots and hit the target once. Now, facing a technically weaker opponent — who allowed six shots on target to Inter Miami in the first round — he’s expected to have more space and could play a decisive role for Palmeiras.

While Palmeiras put their faith in youth, Al-Ahly turned to experience to make a difference in the Club World Cup. In the transfer window, the Egyptians signed Mahmoud Trézéguet, a former Premier League player who had been at Al-Rayyan in Qatar. The 30-year-old returns to his boyhood club for this campaign.

Despite his recent arrival, Trézéguet is already a starter under Jose Riveiro. In a friendly against Pachuca, he came off the bench and scored the equalizer. Against Inter Miami in the tournament opener, he was Al-Ahly’s standout performer, registering four shots and hitting the target twice in 65 minutes.

At Al-Rayyan in the 2024/25 season, Trézéguet had ten goal involvements in 19 league games. During that same period, he totaled 56 shots and 18 on target.

As mentioned, this match between Al-Ahly and Palmeiras is expected to be open, with both teams pushing forward. With support from quick attacking partners, Trézéguet could well test Weverton with at least one shot on target.

In their Club World Cup debut, Palmeiras proved capable of competing evenly with European teams. Despite a strong performance against Porto, the Brazilian side couldn’t break the deadlock. On the other hand, Al-Ahly also drew 0–0 with Inter Miami, making Group A even more unpredictable. This turns the clash between the teams into a crucial match in the fight for a knockout round spot.

Looking at both teams' seasons and players, Palmeiras stands out as the clear favorite. The Brazilian team has a more established project, with coach Abel Ferreira at the helm since 2020. Additionally, Palmeiras has recorded 13 wins, one draw, and three losses in their 17 matches across the 2025 Libertadores and Brasileirão.

Meanwhile, Al-Ahly is just starting a new project under coach Jose Riveiro. To make matters worse, the Egyptian side is physically behind Palmeiras, as their domestic season is nearing its end. Their physical drop-off in the second half against Inter Miami in their tournament opener was telling.

Therefore, the key factor in this match lies in the intensity of both teams. While Al-Ahly struggled late in their opener, Palmeiras held up physically against a theoretically stronger opponent.

It's also worth noting that these two sides have already faced each other twice in past Club World Cups. In 2022, Palmeiras beat Al-Ahly 2–0. The previous year, the match ended 0–0 in regular time.

Despite goalless draws in their openers, both Palmeiras and Al-Ahly are sides that usually adopt offensive approaches and feature in high-scoring games. For example, Palmeiras had the 4th most shots in the first round of the Club World Cup with 16 attempts. Al-Ahly also did well, ranking among the top 10 with 11 shots.

Another data point from the first round that highlights their attacking profiles: both teams registered high xG values despite the 0–0 scorelines. Palmeiras created chances worth up to 2xG, above their 1.61 per game average in the Brazilian league. Al-Ahly, meanwhile, had an xG of 1.61 against Inter Miami.

Looking at their domestic and continental campaigns, Al-Ahly scored 69 goals and conceded 26 in 35 matches across the Egyptian League and the AFC Champions League — a total goal average of 2.71 per match.

Palmeiras posts similar figures this season. Across the Libertadores and Brasileirão, they scored 29 goals and conceded 12 in 17 matches — an average of 2.41 total goals per game.

In short, this Thursday’s match will be a clash between two attack-minded teams. With both sides needing a win to ease the pressure heading into the final round, it's easy to envision a match with goals at both ends.