Manchester City Eyes Club World Cup Glory as Potential Champions League Final Rematch Looms
Manchester City smoothly secured their place in the Club World Cup with a commanding performance against Wydad AC in their group opener, and have since found their rhythm to establish a dominant presence in the competition.
Despite their comprehensive 6-0 victory on Matchday 2, where he netted twice, Ilkay Gündoğan expressed concerns about his team's tempo in possession. However, the German midfielder would have been delighted with how the Citizens performed against Juventus in their decisive Group G encounter.
Their emphatic 5-2 victory over the Turin giants ensures Pep Guardiola's squad advances to the knockout phase with high confidence, as their revitalized roster looks to quickly compensate for an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign without silverware.
Below is Manchester City's possible path to the Club World Cup championship match.
Man City Last 16 Opponents
City's impressive triumph against Juventus secured their position as Group G champions. Their round of 16 adversaries were determined later that evening, with Al Hilal managing to navigate through to face the English champions.
The Saudi outfit needed assistance from Real Madrid against RB Salzburg, which materialized as expected, while Al Hilal handled their own responsibilities to advance as Group H's second-place finishers. They defeated the already-eliminated Pachuca 2-0 in their concluding group fixture to overtake Salzburg.
City have no previous encounters with the Saudi Pro League club, though they will meet a recognizable figure in João Cancelo, who featured in all three group matches for Al Hilal.
Man City's Potential Quarterfinal Opponents
While Al Hilal demonstrated in their group opener against Real Madrid that they won't be easily dismissed this summer, Manchester City should still be favored to progress to the quarterfinals, particularly if they can replicate their performance level from the Juventus match.
The difficulty is certain to increase significantly in the last eight, with UEFA Champions League runners-up Inter representing a possible challenge. Despite being overwhelmed by Paris Saint-Germain in Munich and struggling to secure first place in Group E, Cristian Chivu's team delivered a composed performance against an aggressive River Plate side in their final group encounter to advance as group leaders.
For a rematch of the 2023 Champions League final to materialize, the Italian side must first overcome a defensively solid Fluminense squad that recorded two shutouts in Group F. The Brazilian team has impressed in the United States thus far, and Inter will need to work diligently for their round of 16 success.
Man City's Potential Semifinal Opponents
Should Guardiola's team avoid facing Brazilian opposition in the quarterfinals, there's an increased likelihood of encountering South American flair in the semifinals. Botafogo and Palmeiras clash in the round of 16, ensuring one Brazilian representative reaches the quarterfinals.
Nevertheless, the victor of that encounter might face Enzo Maresca's Chelsea for a semifinal berth. The London club has already suffered defeat to Brazilian opposition this summer against Flamengo, and must first overcome Benfica before considering a potential semifinal showdown with Manchester City.
Although Chelsea maintains a perfect record against the Portuguese club, Benfica enters the knockout phase following a hard-fought victory over Bayern Munich. Maresca's squad defeated Los Angeles FC and ES Tunis during the group stage but faltered against their first quality opponent.
Man City's Potential Final Opponents
Theoretically, Manchester City appears to be positioned on the more favorable side of the bracket, despite the Brazilian teams' impressive showings throughout the tournament.
City can disregard the other half of the draw momentarily, but will ultimately need to defeat one of eight teams in the championship match.
European titleholders Paris Saint-Germain suffered a setback against Botafogo on Matchday 2, yet remain the tournament favorites. They face Inter Miami in the round of 16, creating the first-ever meeting between Lionel Messi and one of his former clubs.
The Flamengo versus Bayern Munich matchup promises to be an explosive encounter, while Real Madrid against Juventus represents a clash of historical giants. Madrid are beginning to find their form under new head coach Xabi Alonso. Borussia Dortmund topped Group F without inspiring confidence, and may face upset possibilities against Monterrey.