Tribulietx uncovered a pre-season match Tétouan played against Lleida Esportiu, a Spanish Segunda B team north of Barcelona.
"The League in Morocco is very transitional - up and down - and play is very stretched," explained Tribulietx before the game. "It's difficult to predict when we play these guys with our [possession-based] structure what will happen. But the way the Spanish team plays is similar to our structure, so the best reference is that game."
Tribulietx studied the match versus Lleida again and again, searching for vital clues.
"I [kept] watching that game to remind myself what was possible and not to get dragged down - it was encouraging."
Auckland executed the game plan superbly. They had 48 per cent of possession, rarely looked in trouble defensively and took the pace - and the capacity crowd - out of the game.
"We knew there were going to be periods [without the ball] but we rode it perfectly," said goalkeeper Tamati Williams. "We knew when to slow it down, we knew when to speed things up."
Several other elements combined for this footballing fairy tale. Auckland adjusted their buildup from last year's Club World Cup (when they were based in Spain before the tournament) for a less arduous and simpler journey via Dubai, where they played out a confidence-boosting 0-0 draw with Uzbekistan.
Another factor is the ASB Premiership's increased competitiveness, epitomised by Team Wellington's 4-0 win over Auckland two weeks ago. The inaugural OFC President's Cup also played a part. That tournament gave Tribulietx an extended final look at his entire squad, and the team enjoyed another tough encounter with Vanuatu champions Amicale in the final.
Amicale also supplied two members of the Auckland's victorious team: Serbian defender Marko Dordevic, who was outstanding alongside John Irving, and debutant Nigerian striker Sanni Issa, who showed nerves of steel to slot the crucial fifth penalty.
A final mention needs to goes to Ivan Vicelich. Auckland City's last Club World Cup victory was in 2009, when Vicelich was meant to be in the twilight of his career. Five years later, and the 38-year-old gave a man of the match performance on Thursday, playing the crucial anchor role in midfield.
"Ivan is capable of coming up to [the level] of a game like this," said Tribulietx. "He's 38 but I knew he would be all right. He has everything that a footballer needs to have."
Improbable as last Thursday's victory was - just the fourth in 17 attempts by Oceania teams at the Club World Cup - Auckland will have to go to another level against ES Setif on Sunday morning.
The Black Eagles are one of the most storied clubs in Algeria, having won the league six times and Algerian football is currently on a high, after their national team's heroics at the last World Cup.
And Auckland City have lost any element of surprise that they had before the tournament.
"It would be a serious mistake to underestimate the opponent," said ES Setif coach Kheireddine Madoui. "Tactically and physically they are [an] interesting [team]."
Auckland City spent today in recovery with a light training session, ahead of more detailed preparations tomorrow.
"The body will be hurting but it is all about the top three inches", said Auckland midfielder Tim Payne. "If we play as well as we did in the last game anything can happen. We'll need to raise our level again."
The winner of Sunday's match will play South American champions San Lorenzo of Argentina, while the loser will play off for fifth and sixth place, against either Western Sydney Wanderers or Mexican side Cruz Azul.
