KLIK SAJA - Manchester City have the chance to seal an early ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup knockout stage when they take on UAE giants Al Ain at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this Sunday in Group G action.
Pep Guardiola’s men kicked off their campaign with minimal fuss, earning a comfortable 2-0 win over Wydad AC.
Meanwhile, their Middle Eastern opponents were on the receiving end of a ruthless Juventus thrashing, setting the stage for what many expect to be another lopsided scoreline in City’s favor.
Despite a noticeable dip in form in the 2024–25 domestic season, Phil Foden — a former PFA Player of the Year — lit up the Lincoln Financial Field with a standout performance that inspired City’s opening victory.
The England international struck just two minutes in with a sharp left-footed finish before turning provider, setting up Jeremy Doku’s goal from a corner late in the first half.
The only blemish on an otherwise dominant display was Rico Lewis' late red card — a decision that left Guardiola visibly furious — but overall, it was a smooth afternoon for the Premier League champions.
Another win this weekend would mathematically guarantee City’s place in the knockout rounds, thanks to their superior head-to-head record over Wydad.
However, Juventus’ crushing win over Al Ain means City currently sit second in the group.
Interestingly, with Real Madrid failing to win their opening fixture, the Group G winner is likely to face Los Blancos in the first knockout tie — a scenario that could make finishing second more strategic for Guardiola’s side.
Although Bayern Munich’s 10-0 demolition of Auckland City spared Al Ain the record for the heaviest defeat of matchday one, their 5-0 loss to Juventus was still a bitter pill to swallow.
The Bianconeri had already wrapped up the five-goal rout within the first hour in Washington D.C., with Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceição each bagging a brace, and Turkish youngster Kenan Yildiz adding a stunning long-range strike off the post.
Sitting rock-bottom of the group, Vladimir Ivic’s side would need nothing short of a miracle to upset City and sneak into the top two — a highly unlikely outcome even for the most optimistic supporters of the 14-time UAE champions.
That said, Al Ain do have history when it comes to shocking the world at this tournament. They famously upset River Plate on their way to the 2018 final, although they were eventually dismantled by European champions Real Madrid.
Now, after seeing their seven-match unbeaten run — which included six clean sheets — come to a crashing end, the 2024 AFC Champions League winners are facing a mountain to climb to extend their American adventure.
