Manchester City will take on Juventus in the FIFA Club World Cup on Thuesday, looking to continue their impressive start to the tournament.
Manchester City have picked up two consecutive victories over Wydad Casablanca and Al-Ain ahead of the final FIFA Club World Cup group tie vs Juventus. The Citizens will be full of confidence heading into this game. It will be interesting to see if they can pick up their third win in a row.
On the other hand, Juventus have beaten the two teams as well, scoring nine goals in the process. The Bianconeri are in tremendous form and they will be looking to grind out a positive result here. It remains to be seen whether they can upset the odds.
On paper, Manchester City are the better team, but the Serie A outfit certainly have the quality to grind out a positive result here. Both teams have quality players at their disposal, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer are the only absentees for Igor Tuodr. Juvenus will shape up in a 3-4-1-2 formation vs Manchester City, with Michele Di Gregorio in goal. In the back three, Pierre Kalulu will start again alongside Nicolo Savona and Lloyd Kelly.
Alberto Costa and Andrea Cambiaso will start on the flanks. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Weston McKennie and Khephren Thuram will add physicality, drive and defensive cover in the middle of the park.
Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao will start as the attacking midfielders. They will look to drift into the wide areas as well and create opportunities for their teammates. Finally, Randal Kolo Muani will lead the line for Juventus vs Manchester City on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Gregorio; Kalulu, Savona, Kelly; Costa, McKennie, Thuram, Cambiaso; Yildiz, Conceicao; Kolo Muani
Manchester City
Mateo Kovacic has been ruled out with an injury, and Jack Grealish has been left out of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 squad. Manchester City will shape up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation vs Juventus, with Ederson Moraes in goal.
Matheus Nunes and Rayan Ait-Nouri will start as the full-backs here, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Ruben Dias will start alongside Josko Gvardiol at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Tijjani Reijnders will add creativity and control alongside Rodri in the middle of the park. Rodri will look to break up attacking moves and control the tempo from the deep.
Rayan Cherki will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create opportunities for his teammates with his passing, vision and flair. Bernardo Silva and Omar Marmoush will start on the flanks, with Erling Haaland leading the line for Manchester City vs Juventus on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunez, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Reijnders, Rodri; Silva, Cherki, Marmoush; Haaland
Key Stats
Manchester City have picked a win in their last four matches in all competitions.
Juventus have picked up a win in their last four matches in all competitions.
Manchester City have kept three clean sheets in their last four matches in all competitions.
Juventus have scored 14 goals in their last four matches in all competitions.
Manchester City have scored 13 goals in their last four matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian striker is our key player to watch out for. Manchester City will look to find a way past the Juventus defence and score goals here. So, Haaland will be a crucial player for them. He could cause all sorts of problems for Juventus with his goalscoring ability, movement, and physicality.
The 24-year-old will look to get on the score sheet here and help his team grind out all three points. He is one of the best players in the world, and it remains to be seen whether he can make a defining impact for his team.
Prediction
Juventus 1-2 Manchester City
Manchester City are a better team on paper, and they will be expected to grind out all three points. Both teams will look to grind out a positive result here, and this is likely to be a close contest.
Juventus will not want to come away with a defeat, and they are likely to put up a fight. However, Manchester City are the better team, and they have more quality and depth right now. They should be able to grind out a narrow victory here. The two sides are likely to get on the score sheet, but the visitors will edge this one.