Manchester City continue their adventure in the money-making machine that is the new Club World Cup and a second win in two games will be the expectation, even if the lineup is shuffled around as Pep Guardiola’s team face Al Ain.
By Karl Matchett
New chances for new faces
While some matches have the feel of pre-season, this competition still feels somehow more like the end of last term than the opening of the new one, perhaps as there wasn’t exactly much of a break between the two. Despite that, a hastily fashioned transfer window has been arranged and new deals have been concluded. Man City, of course, certainly needed a refresh. It started in January, but it’s the likes of Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri who have arrived more recently and who might make City seem like more of their old selves: more technical ability and creativity from the former, more speed and a proper left-sided outlet from the latter.
Final reminder of old faces
Depending on the leagues you usually watch, some of the Asian sides appearing in the US this summer might feel a bit nostalgic, given their squad lists. There aren’t quite as many former Premier League stars in this Al Ain side, but several who have experience around Europe. Rui Patrício in goal, formerly of Wolves, is the biggest name but Fábio Cardoso was briefly at Rangers and is owned by Porto, while centre-back Ramy Rabia had a spell with Sporting CP in his younger days.
Recent form
City beat Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in their Club World Cup opener, making it three wins in a row for them after they ended the Premier League campaign with victories over Fulham and Bournemouth. Prior to that, however, they lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace and were held to a goalless draw by the league’s worst team, Southampton. Al Ain ended their own campaign in the UAE with three wins and two draws in the last five, but opened their Club World Cup with a 5-0 thumping by Juventus.
Team news
Rico Lewis is suspended after his late red card against Wydad and Mateo Kovačić is injured for Man City. Jack Grealish was left out of the squad entirely for the competition. Ai Ain have no squad concerns and have a full list to choose from.
Key player
Given Omar Marmoush started up front in the last game, a return for Erling Haaland wouldn’t be a surprise and he could look to fill his boots given a very lean spell since his return from injury: just one goal in five games. Al Ain were shaky defensively against Juve and Haaland is elite – even after not quite as incredible a season, he is still higher ranked than 96% of strikers in Europe for goals and 97% for shots. Just get him chances again and he’ll plunder several – this could be a good starting point for that.
Prediction
The Premier League side should make fairly short work of this encounter and a repeat scoreline of Juve’s game wouldn’t be a huge surprise: Man City 5-0 Al Ain.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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