Manchester City Set to Unleash Star-Studded Squad Against Al Hilal in Club World Cup Showdown
The Premier League should take notice. Manchester City have returned to their dominant form. At least, that's the widespread consensus.
Pep Guardiola's team delivered an outstanding performance in their 5-2 demolition of Juventus during their concluding group match at the Club World Cup, securing their progression to the knockout phase as Group G champions.
The team's new signings have quickly made their mark, and the altered squad composition appears poised to drive tactical changes on the pitch. The Citizens are displaying renewed energy and have regained their characteristic confidence.
Guardiola has effectively managed his squad rotation throughout their time in the United States, but the quality of their Matchday 3 display might encourage the manager to field a comparable starting eleven for their round of 16 encounter with Al Hilal.
Man City Predicted Lineup vs. Al Hilal (4-2-3-1)
GK: Ederson—City's number 31 escaped punishment for his mistake that allowed Juventus to level early in the previous match, and Guardiola might consider Stefan Ortega for this fixture. Nevertheless, Ederson remains City's primary goalkeeper and should feature throughout the knockout rounds.
RB: Matheus Nunes—Although no City player appeared in all three group matches, none accumulated more playing time than Nunes, whose transformation into a right-back could prove pivotal for his Manchester career.
CB: Rúben Dias—The Portuguese center-back only started one group fixture as Guardiola experimented, but the knockout phase will likely bring more consistent selections. Consequently, Dias should get the nod in Orlando.
CB: Josko Gvardiol—With several center-back options available, we'll probably witness the defensive pairing that featured regularly during the latter portion of last season against Al Hilal.
LB: Rayan Aït-Nouri—Aït-Nouri's impressive showing against Juventus will leave many City fans hoping the new signing retains his starting position.
CM: Nico Gonzalez—Rodri returned to the starting lineup for the first time since September in the last match, but he'll be managed cautiously for the remainder of the competition and will probably come off the bench on Monday evening. This gives Nico an opportunity to shine in the defensive midfield role.
CM: Ilkay Gündoğan—The German midfielder netted twice against Al Ain on Matchday 2 but was relegated to substitute duty against Juventus. Gündoğan's primary role in 2025 has involved making late runs into the box, though he might adopt a more restrained approach in this fixture.
RW: Savinho—City's wide play proved crucial in their victory over Juve, with Savinho capping off the performance with a spectacular fifth goal. His partnership with Nunes was highly effective, and the duo should continue their close collaboration on Monday.
AM: Phil Foden—Foden began the tournament impressively but has seen reduced involvement recently. However, a return to Guardiola's first eleven seems likely for this match.
LW: Jérémy Doku—The dynamic Belgian winger has arguably been City's standout performer at the Club World Cup, adding his second tournament goal on Matchday 3.
ST: Erling Haaland—Guardiola's rotation policy has limited Haaland's participation in the U.S. thus far, though he's still managed to score twice. He'll be eager to compete for the Golden Boot if City advances deep into the tournament.