Ahly were held to a goalless draw by Inter Miami in the competition’s opener on Sunday and will face the Brazilian club on Thursday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Palmeiras, meanwhile, played out a similar 0-0 draw with Portuguese side FC Porto in a match where the South American champions had several chances to secure a win.
“Ahly are not a European team, but the game against them will be as tough as the one against FC Porto,” Weverton told reporters on Wednesday.
“They are a great side with a collective playing style and have experience in major tournaments.”
The 37-year-old downplayed any suggestion that Palmeiras hold an edge going into the match.
“There’s no pre-match advantage for us,” he said.
“Football only recognizes what happens on the pitch, not the names of the teams.”
“We were considered underdogs against FC Porto but were the better side on the day. Now we may be seen as favorites against Ahly, but that means nothing. We have to fight and work hard if we want to win.” he concluded.
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