The Club World Cup Round of 16 stage continues on Monday with a match in Orlando featuring Manchester City and Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. The winner will secure a place in the last eight of the tournament.
Manchester City enters this fixture as the clear favorite. They demonstrated their dominance in Group G by winning all three matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding just two. A notable result was their 5-2 victory over Juventus. This encounter marks their second match against an Asian opponent in the competition, having previously defeated Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates 6-0 during the group phase.
Al-Hilal is the sole representative from Asia to reach the knockout rounds, being one of only three teams from outside Europe and South America at this stage. Their path through Group H included a 2-0 win against Mexico`s Pachuca and impressive draws against European powerhouses RB Salzburg and, surprisingly, Real Madrid. While drawing inspiration from their 1-1 result against Real Madrid is possible, facing Pep Guardiola`s in-form Manchester City is expected to be a significantly tougher challenge.
Last Meeting
This upcoming match will be the first competitive meeting between Manchester City and Al-Hilal. Their only previous encounter was a preseason friendly game held in Innsbruck, Austria in July 2012. Al-Hilal won that match 1-0, at a time when then-City manager Roberto Mancini was rotating his squad during the early stages of their preparation for the 2012-13 season.
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: Following an ACL injury that impacted their previous domestic season, the return of Ballon d`Or winner Rodri is a major boost for Manchester City. He made his first start since September in the recent 5-2 win over Juventus and is expected to feature prominently against Al-Hilal. This match provides another opportunity for him to regain full match fitness. Rodri`s ability to control the tempo from midfield and his forward-thinking passes will be vital, especially as he links up with potentially new attacking partners like Tijjani Reijnders or Rayan Cherki that Guardiola might select. His presence significantly strengthens City`s core.
Storyline to Watch
Has Manchester City regained their top form?: After a demanding previous season and a less successful domestic campaign by their standards, there was uncertainty about Manchester City`s readiness for the Club World Cup. However, their performance in the group stage has been decisive. They were the only team to win all three matches and were the highest-scoring side with 13 goals. This dominant showing, coupled with Pep Guardiola using the tournament to integrate new signings and refresh the squad, suggests City has rediscovered its winning momentum. Momentum has clearly shifted in their favor. This match against Al-Hilal is likely to further underline their status as the tournament favorites, with their strongest tests expected in later rounds.
Prediction
While European teams traditionally have a historical advantage against Asian opposition in this competition, Manchester City`s current impressive form is the primary factor here. Regardless of the exact lineup Pep Guardiola chooses, City is expected to comfortably control the game and secure their place in the quarter-finals with relative ease. Prediction: Manchester City 3, Al-Hilal 0.
