Manchester City set off fireworks with a 3-0 victory. 'Monster striker' Erling Haaland (25) also reached a career milestone by scoring his 300th goal.
Under the guidance of coach Pep Guardiola, Manchester City defeated Juventus 5-2 in the third match of Group G at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on the 27th (Korea time).
Thus, Manchester City finished the group stage with 9 points (3 wins), advancing to the round of 16 as group winners. This is an overwhelming performance with 13 goals scored and only 2 conceded in 3 matches. Following their earlier victories over Wydad AC and Al Ain, winning 2-0 and 6-0 respectively, they also took down Juventus, a powerhouse in Serie A.
On that day, Manchester City started with a 4-1-4-1 formation. Omar Marmoush, Jeremy Doku, Tijani Reinders, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Mateus Nunes, and Ederson were in the starting lineup.
Juventus, led by coach Igor Tudor, faced off in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Dusan Vlahovic, Thijs Dallinga, Nicolas Gonzalez, Filip Kostić, Weston McKennie, Manuel Locatelli, Alberto Costa, Lloyd Kelly, Nicolo Sabona, and Michele Di Gregorio were the starting players.
Manchester City opened the scoring first. In the 9th minute of the first half, Doku received a pass from Ait-Nouri, evaded the defense, and found the back of the net. Juventus quickly brought the game back to level. In the 11th minute of the first half, Dallinga intercepted Ederson's inaccurate pass due to high pressing and advanced forward to score the equalizer with a left-foot shot.
Juventus acted against themselves. In the 26th minute of the first half, Nunes penetrated into the right side of the box and attempted a low cross. In a hurry to clear, Calulu accidentally kicked the ball into his own net.
Manchester City's assault continued. Even in heavy rain, they fiercely attacked Juventus's goal through Marmoush. However, sharp long-range shots from Ait-Nouri and Marmoush were all tipped away by the goalkeeper. The first half ended with Manchester City leading 2-1.
Coach Guardiola substituted Marmoush for Haaland at the start of the second half. Haaland quickly found the net. In the 7th minute of the second half, he received a pass from Nunes and pushed the ball into the empty goal, completing his 300th career goal. Born in 2000, Haaland already has 258 goals for the club and 42 goals for the Norway national team.
Manchester City called off Doku and Rodri in the 21st minute of the second half and brought on Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden. Rodri received a standing ovation as he left the pitch after successfully returning for his first match since his Ballon d'Or win last October.
The bombardment from Manchester City continued. In the 24th minute of the second half, Haaland slipped a pass into the box, and instead of shooting directly, Sabinyu passed to Foden, breaking down the goalkeeper. Foden easily slotted the ball in to make it 4-1.
Sabinyu also experienced the thrill of scoring. In the 30th minute of the second half, after a corner kick attack in a scramble, Haaland's shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. Sabinyu connected with the loose ball and scored with a sensational right-footed shot from distance.
Juventus managed to pull one back. In the 39th minute of the second half, Vlahovic received a pass from Kenan Yildiz, slipped past the defensive line, and won the battle for possession to score with a right-foot shot. The match ended with a convincing 5-2 victory for Manchester City.
This was an important victory for Manchester City. By securing first place in Group G, they succeeded in avoiding a matchup against 'European champions' Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Bayern Munich in the tournament draw.
However, it is too early to relax. Manchester City's opponent in the round of 16 has yet to be determined. Manchester City must wait to see which team they will face among Real Madrid, Al Hilal, or Red Bull Salzburg.
Nevertheless, this was a match where Manchester City gained a lot, including Rodri starting for the first time since receiving the Ballon d'Or last October. The British 'BBC' reported, 'Manchester City finished the group stage with a perfect record. Vlahovic scored late in the match to offer consolation to Juventus, but it was too late.'
[Photo] ⓒGetty Images (no unauthorized reproduction or redistribution), Sportskeeda, Manchester City social media.
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