Real Madrid take on Cruz Azul in their first match of the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup hoping to obtain their 21st consecutive victory in all competitions.
The Mexican side beat Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 after extra time in the quarter finals of the competition. Yet Los Blancos are expected to earn a comfortable victory.
Carlo Ancelotti will miss James Rodriguez and Sami Khedira, who have not recovered on time from their injuries. With Luka Modric also on the sidelines, Asier Illarramendi will start again alongside Toni Kroos. Isco and Gareth Bale will complete the midfield line.
While Madrid have won their last 20 games, Cruz Azul had only earned one victory in their previous six games before travelling to Morocco for the World Cup.
The game venue has been changed due to heavy rains in Rabat, and it will be played in Marrakesh.
This is the second time Real take part in the Club World Cup. On the previous occasion in 2000, they finished fourth. Cruz Azul had never played in this competition before.
Possible line-ups:
Cruz Azul: Corona; Flores, Maza, Dominguez, Pinto; Baez, Torrado; Formica, Gimenez, Anibal; Pavone.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Bale, Kroos, Illarramendi, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.
