Manchester City's Club World Cup inauguration takes place at King Abdullah Sports City on Tuesday night, as Japanese outfit Urawa Red Diamonds await the Citizens' arrival for their semi-final tie.
While Pep Guardiola's men enter their maiden Club World Cup tournament in the final four, Urawa were forced to see off Mexican outfit Leon to set up a glamour tie with the European champions.
The Red Devils unsurprisingly did not rest on their laurels as they triumphed on the continent, thus setting up a second-round Club World Cup showdown against tournament debutants and CONCACAF Champions League winners Leon in front of a measly 2,500-strong Jeddah crowd.
The lack of atmosphere did not hamper Maciej Skorza's side on their road to glory, though, as Alex Schalk - once of Scottish Premiership side Ross County - scored the winning goal off the bench in the 78th minute, and the Dutch striker even spurned a couple of chances to add to his side's advantage in the closing stages.
Urawa's task was made easier when Leon captain William Tesillo took the walk of shame for a pair of bookable offences, as the Japanese crop advanced to their second semi-final from three Club World Cup appearances, having also been present at the 2007 and 2017 events and taking third place in the former tournament.
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