This is a Manchester City predicted lineup for their second group game of the Club World Cup against Al Ain. The Cityzens started the tournament with a relatively comfortable win against 2021/22 AFC Champions League winners Wydad Casablanca, though Rico Lewis did get sent off relatively late on. Pep Guardiola’s men now travel to Atlanta to face UAE-based side Al Ain, who won the Asian Champions League in 2023/24 and lost their opening group game against Juventus 5-0.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup vs Al Ain
How Manchester City Have Lined Up Recently
Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson started in goal and captained the side against Wydad. As Guardiola is treating the tournament as preseason in many ways, it will be interesting to see if the former Benfica goalkeeper retains his spot in goal or if Stefan Ortega Moreno starts instead. New signing Marcus Bettinelli was not named on the bench against Wydad.
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After a tough end to the 2024/25 campaign, Lewis was handed a start for City’s first game of the tournament, though he received a straight red card after 88 minutes. Nathan Ake made his first start for City since March 1 against the Moroccan side, completing the full 90 minutes. He was partnered in the centre of defence by young Brazilian Vitor Reis, who was making just his third start in sky blue. Nico O’Reilly started at left-back, forming the final part of a back four that had an average age of just 22.25
26-year-old Dutchman Tijjani Reijnders made his City debut in the centre of the pitch, looking fairly impressive and completing the full 90 minutes. He was partnered in a slightly deeper role by Phil Foden, who scored City’s first goal just one minute and 52 seconds into the game. The Englishman was replaced by Rodri after an hour.
Guardiola started both Jeremy Doku and Savinho on the wings, the Brazilian operating on the right flank and the Belgian on the left flank. Doku scored City’s second goal after losing his marker from a corner. He was replaced after an hour by Oscar Bobb, whose introduction saw Savinho move to the left wing.
Omar Marmoush, who has started all but one of City’s games since April, led the line against Wydad alongside another debutant in Rayan Cherki.
Manchester City’s Recent Form and Tactics
Although the Moroccan side certainly had their moments, Foden’s early goal meant that City always looked relatively comfortable against Wydad, even with 10 men in the closing stages. Guardiola’s side had six big chances and created 1.92 xG against their opponents.
Although performances are yet to get back to their dynamic best, City’s results have seen a marked improvement in the last few months. The Sky Blues have lost just once in all competitions since March 8 and they have only conceded two goals in their last seven games.
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Guardiola employed his standard 4-4-2 system out of possession against Wydad. This led to Foden being used in a deeper, more orthodox, central midfield position alongside Reijnders and Cherki acting as a striker off the ball. On the ball, City’s system was much more fluid. Both O’Reilly and Lewis were moving into midfield at points, whilst they were also slotting in alongside Ake and Reis to form a back three at other points. Foden, Cherki and Marmoush all had a lot of freedom in possession and there was often not a recognised striker for defenders to mark.
Manchester City Injuries to Consider
There are no new injury concerns for City ahead of their game against Al Ain. Mateo Kovacic is their only injured player, but he has been left out of the squad for the tournament as he is recovering from surgery.
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Guardiola did offer a number of fitness updates ahead of City’s game in Atlanta. Despite being able to play for half an hour against Wydad, Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is not fit enough to start against Al Ain. John Stones, who was named in the matchday squad for the first time in four months, but did not come off the bench, against Wydad, is also not fit to start.
The Catalan also gave a major hint about his team selection in his pre-match press conference, saying that 10 different players will play against Al Ain as he looks to build match fitness amongst the group.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup Vs Wydad Casablanca
GK: Stefan Ortega Moreno
RB: Manuel Akanji
CB: Ruben Dias
CB: Josko Gvardiol
LB: Rayan Ait Nouri
RM: Oscar Bobb
CM: Bernardo Silva
CM: Nico Gonzalez
LM: Matheus Nunes
ST: Ilkay Gundogan
ST: Erling Haaland