Cruz Azul vs. Real Madrid: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Club World Cup

All the fuss on Monday morning was about the Champions League, which saw Real Madrid paired with Schalke again, but Los Blancos are focusing their attention on a different competition altogether at the moment: the Club World Cup.

And they get their campaign in Morocco underway on Tuesday night.

They'll meet Mexican side Cruz Azul, who came through a rain-drenched affair against nine-man Western Sydney Wanderers in the quarter-final at the weekend.

However, it was so wet that the pitch in Rabat took quite a beating, meaning FIFA have taken the option to switch Tuesday's semi-final to the Moroccan capital, Marrakech.

B/R takes a look at the issues and the decisions that will shape the match.

Stadium change

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

How do logistics affect a football match?

Real Madrid flew into Rabat, where they were expecting to play their first match of the Club World Cup, but they will now have to uproot to Marrakech to play the game, per J.L. Guerrero of AS.

It's unsettling, but it is unlikely to be enough to knock the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale out of their stride.

Cruz Azul are also in the same situation, although they've been in Morocco for longer as they had to enter the competition at an earlier stage than the European champions.

Real Madrid drive

Daniel Tejedor/Associated Press

You can only admire Real Madrid's hunger and desire.

They have won 20 matches in a row in all competitions, and there are very few signs of complacency creeping into their game—the opposite, in fact.

Whether it's the Copa del Rey against a third-tier side or a dead rubber in the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti's men remain desperate to win.

They certainly won't be underestimating Cruz Azul, nor will they take it easy on their Mexican opposition.

Brazilian side Coritiba's 24-match world-record winning streak is there to be broken.

Cruz Azul's Strengths

Abdeljalil Bounhar/Associated Press

Luis Fernando Tena's side reached the Club World Cup due to winning the CONCACAF Champions League; however, their form in the run-up to the competition has not been impressive.

They missed out on the Apertura Liguilla play-offs after stumbling in the final weeks of the season.

To beat Madrid, they will need their attacking players to play the games of their lives—because you have to imagine Real Madrid will score.

Christian Gimenez's pace, Mauro Formica's power and the strength of Mariano Pavone are their main threats, per Karla Villegas Gama of B/R.

It's going to be tough, though.

Los Blancos' fitness

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Only Luka Modric is missing from Real Madrid's travelling party, but not all 22 players, as revealed on Real Madrid’s official website (in Spanish), in Morocco are currently in peak condition.

Sami Khedira has struggled with injuries this season, James Rodriguez is touch and go, and Jese Rodriguez is still recovering from a nine-month layoff.

Ignoring those players, Ancelotti is left with eight fully fit midfielders and forwards, including Alvaro Medran and Javier Hernandez.

Fortunately, the likes of Ronaldo, Bale and Isco are fit and in form.

Madrid's Full-Backs

Jose Ignacio Unanue/Associated Press

One area Real Madrid currently have strength and depth is in the full-back positions.

Marcelo wasn't at his best in the win over Almeria, giving away a penalty and lucky not to be called for a handball in the first half, but he attacked well.

He didn't attack as well as Dani Carvajal, though, who was fantastic.

And those two are ably backed up by Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Coentrao, who are both more than capable of mixing it at the top level.

Perhaps because there is so much emphasis on Madrid's wonderful array of attacking talent, there is more room for the full-backs to play in.

If that is the case, the likes of Carvajal and Marcelo are certainly capable of exploiting it.

Cruz Azul will have to be careful of them.