The Club World Cup Round of 16 features a clash in Orlando on Monday, as Manchester City takes on Al-Hilal with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.
Manchester City enters this encounter as overwhelming favorites, having dominated Group G with a perfect record of three wins from three matches. They demonstrated formidable attacking power, outscoring opponents 13-2, including a notable 5-2 victory over Juventus. This isn`t their first encounter with an Asian opponent in the tournament, having already defeated Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates 6-0 in the group stage.
Al-Hilal, representing Saudi Arabia, qualified for the knockout phase as one of three teams from outside Europe and South America and the sole representative from Asia. Their path included a 2-0 win against Mexico`s Pachuca in Group H, but it was their draws against RB Salzburg and, notably, Real Madrid, that secured their progression. While drawing inspiration from their result against Real Madrid, facing Pep Guardiola`s in-form City side presents a significantly different challenge.
Last Meeting
This upcoming match will mark the first competitive encounter between Manchester City and Al-Hilal. However, the two clubs did meet previously in a preseason friendly held in Innsbruck, Austria, back in July 2012. In that non-competitive fixture, Al-Hilal emerged victorious with a 1-0 scoreline, a result influenced by then-City manager Roberto Mancini`s decision to heavily rotate his squad during the early stages of their 2012-13 season preparations.
Predicted Lineups
- Manchester City: Ederson, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland
- Al-Hilal: Yassine Bounou, Joao Cancelo, Hassan Al-Tombakti, Kalidou Koulibaly, Renan Lodi, Ruben Neves, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Malcom, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Salem Aldawsari, Marcos Leonardo
Player to Watch
Rodri, Manchester City: While Pep Guardiola`s squad has seen significant additions through recent transfer windows, the return of Rodri is particularly welcomed by City supporters. The Ballon d`Or winner made his first start since September on Thursday, having recovered from the ACL injury that impacted their season. He showed promising form in the 5-2 win against Juventus, and the match against Al-Hilal provides another chance for him to regain full match fitness. Rodri`s presence is crucial, providing a strong base regardless of the attacking lineup Guardiola selects. His established understanding with players like Erling Haaland, combined with the integration of newcomers such as Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, could lead to dynamic attacking movements initiated by the midfielder`s characteristic forward-thinking style.
Storyline to Watch
Are Manchester City the Team to Beat?: There was some uncertainty heading into the Club World Cup regarding the form of Manchester City, particularly after a domestic and continental season without silverware and a demanding schedule. However, after three group stage matches, it`s evident that City have successfully refreshed and are in strong form. They were the only side to secure maximum points from their three group games and finished as the highest scorers in that phase with 13 goals. With Pep Guardiola utilizing the tournament to integrate new players and initiate a squad rebuild, City appears to have strong momentum. Monday`s match against Al-Hilal is expected to reinforce this impression, with their status as tournament favorites likely not facing a serious challenge until the later stages.
Prediction
Historically, European clubs have held a significant advantage over their Asian opponents in this competition, and Manchester City`s current form further strengthens their position. Regardless of Pep Guardiola`s team selection, City is expected to comfortably secure a victory and advance to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Manchester City 3, Al-Hilal 0
Adrian Whitmore