San Lorenzo vs. Auckland City: Club World Cup Semi-Final Live Stream, Preview
Argentinian titans San Lorenzo will clash against New Zealand counterparts Auckland City on Wednesday as the two teams duel for the right to face Real Madrid in the final of this year's FIFA Club World Cup.
Carlo Ancelotti's men beat Mexican representatives Cruz Azul 4-0 in the first semi-final to claim their spot in the competition's crescendo, anxiously awaiting the victor of Wednesday's encounter.
The prospects of emerging with a title in tow may not be massive for either side, but San Lorenzo and Auckland City would nevertheless be privileged to appear in the Club World Cup final.
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With that honour on the line, one can expect a fierce contest from the two continental bastions, with viewing information and a match preview detailed ahead.
Date: Wednesday, December 17
Time: 7:30 p.m. GMT/2:30 p.m. ET
Live Stream: beIN Sports Play (US)
San Lorenzo Raise Concerns With Marrakesh Conditions
Real Madrid were originally scheduled to play their tournament opener against Cruz Azul in Rabat, but a change in the fixture list saw their game moved to Marrakesh instead.
What's more, Western Sydney Warriors and ES Setif are down to play their fifth-place play-off just a couple of hours prior to San Lorenzo's fixture against Auckland City, with both matches taking place in Marrakesh.
It's left San Lorenzo president Matias Lammens disappointed, according to Rex Gowar of Stuff.co.nz, who quotes the Argentinian official as saying: "Tomorrow (Tuesday) we'll be raising a formal complaint before FIFA for the change in the programme at this Club World Cup. It's evident the state of the field of play after three matches in 24 hours will be very bad and that clearly prejudices San Lorenzo."
The South Americans are clearly of the disposition that Real receive an advantage in being able to play their game first, when the pitch was presumably in its better-kept state.
Gowar goes on to provide quotes from San Lorenzo manager Edgardo Bauza, who supports his president in saying his side have been put at a disadvantage: "If Real Madrid have to play on our pitch, let them do so after us. It's not right, when San Lorenzo play it will be the third match in Marrakesh and the pitch will be a mess. ... On top of that it doesn't stop raining."
Auckland Against the Odds
This being their sixth participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, Auckland City are the most experienced team in Morocco when it comes to this competition.
However, despite being champions of the OFC Champions League, the New Zealanders sit as steep underdogs to emerge triumphant on Wednesday evening.
Ancelotti has noted that San Lorenzo are the more seasoned side when high stakes are on the line, per BBC correspondent Juan Arango:
After winning the 2014 Copa Libertadores, one would be inclined to agree, with their achievements in topping the best that South America has to offer being a far bigger achievement than anything Auckland could face.
That being said, a rare opportunity to show the global audience exactly what it was that got them to this point could give the Oceania representatives all the motivation they need to break free from underdog status.
Auckland have beaten Moroccan outfit Moghreb Tetouan and ES Setif en route to the semi-finals, hoping that their preparation over the past week will aid them against San Lorenzo, who are making their Club World Cup debut.
