Manchester City vs Al-Ain: Guardiola heavily fancied to maintain 100% Club World Cup record

Manchester City can secure a place in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals with a game to spare with a win over Group G minnows Al-Ain. As one of the betting favourites for FIFA’s new-look tournament with bookmakers and crypto-based platforms such as the best ethereum gambling site, City have a strong squad and new signings to help them succeed this summer.

Back in the tournament for the first time since hoisting the crown in 2023, Pep Guardiola’s new-look side hit the ground running with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wydad on day one. 

While Rico Lewis’ late red card somewhat spoiled the victory, match highlights testify to a one-sided contest in which the Cityzens could’ve scored at least five. 

However, Erling Haaland’s wasteful finishing let the Etihad powerhouse down, but the encouragement came from elsewhere. 

Phil Foden grabbed the ‘Man of the Match’ award after scoring his first goal since January and assisting Jeremy Doku for the second on Rodri’s long-awaited return to the squad. 

Guardiola also handed the newcomers, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, their Man City debuts before confirming the Frenchman’s arrival was not his decision via the Daily Mail.

Cherki’s performance flattered to deceive, though facing vastly inferior opposition at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium could be what the doctor ordered for the versatile forward. 

Al-Ain’s return to the Club World Cup for the first time since a runner-up finish to Real Madrid in 2018 didn’t start well as Juventus trounced them 5-0 in their Group G curtain-raiser.

Therefore, Vladimir Ivic’s charges cannot afford another slip-up if they’re to qualify for the knockout stages against the odds, though their prospects in this match-up look bleak.

New Era

Last season was an unmitigated disaster for Man City.

In addition to a premature Champions League exit, they relinquished a four-year stranglehold on the Premier League, finishing third behind Liverpool and Arsenal.

A 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final added insult to injury, condemning the Cityzens to their first trophyless campaign since Guardiola’s maiden season in charge.

The club reacted swiftly in the transfer market, significantly reinforcing the squad that can no longer rely on Kevin De Bruyne’s brilliance, as the Belgian bid farewell to the Etihad after a decade.

Omitted from City’s Club World Cup squad, Jack Grealish could soon join the illustrious playmaker in the departing contingent, while question marks still hang over Ilkay Gundogan’s head.

Upward Trajectory

Guardiola’s men have kindly responded to the FA Cup heartbreak.

Wednesday’s routine win over Wydad extended their winning streak to three matches, with each triumph yielding a two-goal margin, putting Man City in the driver’s seat to secure a knockout berth.

The ten-time Premier League champions have also won all three Club World Cup outings via an aggregate score of 9-0 and could make history in Atalanta.

Another victory would see them join Bayern Munich as the only sides to win their first four matches in the tournament, and the omens look promising for the Cityzens.

Guardiola has been unstoppable in this competition, winning all nine previous Club World Cup games as manager, including the last seven without conceding. 

Sub-par Rival

Al-Ain suffered the joint-second heaviest losing margin in Club World Cup history against Juventus, proving once again that they cannot cope with Europe’s finest.

The 14-time UAE Pro League winners lost 4-1 to Real Madrid in their only previous official match against teams from Europe’s traditional top-five leagues.

However, there’s still a glimmer of hope that they could avoid another battering, having kept six clean sheets in seven outings before Juventus put them to the sword. 

On top of that, they have not lost back-to-back matches by multi-goal margins since November, suggesting a more favourable outcome could be on the cards. 

Potential Starting Line-ups

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Nunes, Khusanov, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez, Gundogan; Bobb, Echeverri, Foden; Haaland.

Al-Ain (5-2-1-2): Patricio; Traore, Ratnik, Rabia, Cardoso, Zabala; Kaku, Nader; Park; Chadli, Laba.

Prediction

Writings are on the wall for Al-Ain as Man City look primed to reach the quarter-finals after matchday two. 

Guardiola’s men boast too much firepower, quality and experience for the two-time AFC Champions League winners to handle. 

Even with an experimental line-up, this should be a walk in the park for the Cityzens. 

Manchester City 3-0 Al-Ain