While they met Los Blancos two years ago as tournament hosts, Kashima are this time representing a continent as Asian champions.  

The Japanese side’s appearance in 2016 (a 4-2 defeat) remains the only time an Asian club has reached the FIFA Club World Cup showpiece and they are now looking to make history again as the first AFC champions to make it to the final.

The 2018 AFC Champions League winners scored three second-half goals to advance to Wednesday’s semi-final, where the reigning European champions await in Abu Dhabi.

It is a rematch of the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup final, which Real won 4-2. But Oiwa, who was Kashima assistant coach two years ago, is now focused on causing an upset this time around.

In 2016, Kashima lost to Los Blancos in the FIFA Club World Cup final and now, thanks to second-half goals by Ryota Nagaki, Serginho and Hiroki Abe, they will have the opportunity to renew rivalries in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Asian champions had fallen at the first hurdle of the tournament in four of the past six years but Kashima avoided the same fate as Urawa Red Diamonds (2017), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2016), Western Sydney Wanderers (2014) and Ulsan Hyundai Motors (2012) with a spirited showing at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

Japan's Kashima were runners-up to Real Madrid in 2016 when they participated as hosts in Japan but this time are aiming to become the first AFC champions to reach the final in the competition’s history.

Standing in their way are Mexican side Guadalajara, better known as Chivas, who in April ended a 56-year wait for continental glory. There have been seven previous encounters between Asian and CONCACAF champions, with Asian sides winning three of those matches.

This is the fourth year in a row - and sixth time in eight years - that the tournament’s host club has made it to the semi-finals, though only Raja Casablanca (2013) and Kashima Antlers (2016) have progressed to the final.

On both of those occasions, South American opposition were defeated – with Raja beating Ronaldinho’s Atletico Mineiro and Kashima defeating Atletico Nacional of Colombia.

In reaching the last four, Al Ain have matched the achievement of fellow UAE side Al Jazira, who lost to Real Madrid at the same stage last year. It means that Zoran Mamic’s men are now aiming to make history by becoming the first Emirati club to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Al Ain produced an imperious display to brush aside African champions Esperance at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium as goals from Mohamed Ahmad, Hussein El Shahat and Bandar Al Ahbabi secured a 3-0 victory.

Mamic was understandably delighted with his team’s showing and is now looking ahead to a high-profile clash with Copa Libertadores winners River.

Early strikes from Mohamed Ahmad and Hussein El Shahat set reigning UAE Pro League champions on their way and a second-half goal from Bandar Al Ahbabi secured the win. Al Ain will now take on Copa Libertadores winners River Plate in the semi-final back at their Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.

Both teams unfurled enormous banners ahead of the game and there was frenzied atmosphere throughout the all-Arab clash.