Manchester City to face Urawa Red Diamonds in Club World Cup semi-final

The Citizens will fly out to Saudi Arabia after Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in preparation for their first-ever campaign at the Club World Cup.

Pep Guardiola's side are the European representatives at this year's tournament after winning the Champions League as part of a historic treble last season.

Man City will enter the Club World Cup at the semi-final stage and have now discovered that Japanese outfit Urawa Red Diamonds will be their opponents in next Tuesday's fixture at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Buraidah.

Urawa Red Diamonds, three-time winners of the AFC Champions League, punched their ticket to the last four courtesy of a 78th-minute strike from Dutch substitute Alex Schalk in a tight affair against Mexican side Club Leon.

Just five minutes after coming off the bench, Schalk found space on the right side of the penalty area and received a pass from Jose Kante before poking a shot beyond Club Leon goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota into the bottom corner.

Urawa Red Diamonds' hopes of victory were boosted when Club Leon defender William Tesillo was shown his second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on the edge of the box six minutes from time.

Club Leon, competing at the Club World Cup for the first time in their history, were unable to find an equaliser with 10 men as Urawa Red Diamonds held on to claim a hard-fought win and set up a showdown with Man City next week.

Urawa Red Diamonds, managed by former Lech Poznan boss Maciej Skorza, have bettered their efforts from their last appearance at the Club