FIFA Club World Cup 2014 Semi-Finals: Fixtures and Live Stream Schedule
Real Madrid will be the strong favourites for this year's 2014 FIFA Club World Cup title when the semi-finals kick-off on Tuesday, but Cruz Azul will be ready to make life hard on the UEFA Champions League holders.
In the second semi-final, Auckland City have already upset two local favourites to set up a date with Argentine powerhouse San Lorenzo, and they'll like their chances against the Copa Libertadores champions.
Here's the full schedule for the semi-finals of the 2014 CWC:
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| Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 7.30 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. | Cruz Azul v Real Madrid | Fox Soccer 2Go |
| Wednesday, Dec. 17 | 7.30 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. | San Lorenzo v Auckland City | Fox Sports Go |
To access the Fox Soccer 2Go app, click here.
For Fox Sports Go, click here.
Preview
All eyes will be on red-hot Real Madrid when they take on a struggling Cruz Azul side on Tuesday, testing their incredible form against the top clubs from the other continents.
As shared by LiveFootball, Los Blancos have won a sensational 20 consecutive matches, scoring almost at will in the process:
"Real Madrid's form. #HalaMadrid http://t.co/rhJ1zF6Dxo pic.twitter.com/nx5Fn3YfIG
— LiveFootball (@livefootball) December 15, 2014"
Cruz Azul played one of the most spectacular matches of the season to advance to the semi-finals, beating nine-man Western Sydney Wanderers amid monsoon-like rains in Rabat.
The conditions were so bad the pitch was completely ruined, forcing event organisers to move the semi-final to Marrakesh, via AS English:
Due to those conditions, it's difficult to gauge exactly how good the Mexican squad is. Logic indicates Los Blancos should run through whoever they face in Morocco, but as we've seen on numerous occasions in the past, the CWC hardly ever turns into a rout.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti is taking no chances with some of his top players, confirming to Real Madrid TV's Phil Kitromilides star midfielder James Rodriguez won't be playing on Tuesday:
He also told reporters he's not underestimating Cruz Azul, as he believes the Mexicans have a lot of quality:
Captain Gerardo Torrado scored twice against their Australian opposition, and while Raphael Varane and Pepe should represent a significant step up in quality over the Wanderers' defence, Real should still approach this match with caution.
In the other semi-final, Auckland are perhaps the biggest story of the entire tournament, beating Moghreb Tetouan and ES Setif on their way to a date with San Lorenzo. For the New Zealanders, it marks the first time they've advanced beyond the quarter-finals.
Defender John Irving couldn't hide his jubilation, speaking to FIFA's official website:
"It’s really incredible. We’re in heaven. Winning our first game (against Moghreb Tetouan) was the greatest day of our lives, but today we were on another level and it’s hard to explain the feeling. We never thought we’d end up among the four best sides here. We’re all very proud.
"
Does the Cinderella run end against San Lorenzo? Los Matadores are not having their best season in the Argentine Primera Division, and with the pressure squarely on the shoulders of the Copa Libertadores holders, Auckland will have little to lose on Wednesday.
I'm still predicting a win for San Lorenzo, although it'd be great to see the perfect storybook ending of a CWC final between lowly Auckland and the Galacticos of Real Madrid.
Final Prediction: Real Madrid vs. San Lorenzo
