Man City Crush Al Ain 6-0 to Reach Club World Cup Last 16

Man City cruised into the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup with a dominant 6-0 victory over Al Ain on Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Premier League champions showcased their depth and firepower as they dismantled the UAE Pro League side in what was nicknamed the “Abu Derby.”

The match carried a personal twist, with Man City owner and United Arab Emirates vice-president Sheikh Mansour facing off against his older brother, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who is the president of both the UAE and Al Ain. But the English side showed no sibling sympathy, delivering a performance filled with attacking flair and defensive discipline.

Veteran midfielder Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring in the ninth minute, although his cross towards Erling Haaland inadvertently floated into the top corner to give Man City an early advantage. That fortunate start set the tone for a one-sided affair.

In the 27th minute, young Argentine talent Claudio Echeverri marked his first start for the club with a stunning free-kick, bending the ball around the wall and past a helpless Khalid Eisa in the Al Ain goal. It was a dream debut goal for the 19-year-old, who is being touted as one of South America’s brightest prospects.

Erling Haaland added a third just before halftime, converting a penalty after a VAR review confirmed a foul on Manuel Akanji in the box. The Norwegian striker calmly slotted the ball low into the corner to open his account for the tournament.

Man City continued their relentless form into the second half, although Haaland was denied a brace by a double save from Eisa around the hour mark. Instead, it was Gundogan who got his second of the night, calmly lifting the ball over the keeper after a slick one-two.

As the substitutions rolled in, the goals kept coming. Oscar Bobb added the fifth with a quick burst of footwork and a near-post finish that left the Al Ain defense scrambling. The sixth came courtesy of Rayan Cherki, who rifled home from outside the box. It was his first goal for Man City after signing from French club Lyon earlier this year.

Manager Pep Guardiola made wholesale changes to the lineup that had defeated Wydad Casablanca in the opening group match. In came star striker Haaland, new signing Rayan Aït-Nouri, and emerging talents like Echeverri. The squad rotation didn’t affect City’s rhythm, and Guardiola expressed satisfaction with the improvement from their first outing.

“We played a little bit better than the first game, especially in the second half,” Guardiola said. “The players adapted well, and it was a great performance all around.”

The result lifts Man City to six points in Group G, level with Juventus, who had earlier beaten Al Ain 5-0. Although the victory secured a spot in the last 16, Guardiola’s team missed the opportunity to overtake Juve on goal difference with one more strike.

Man City now turn their focus to a high-stakes clash against Juventus in Orlando on Thursday. The match will decide who finishes top of Group G and could determine whether City avoid a potentially tougher round-of-16 matchup against European rivals like Real Madrid.

“We would’ve liked to score one more to go ahead of Juventus,” said Gundogan. “But overall, the performance speaks for itself. It was a deserved win.”

Despite missing the chance to gain a slight advantage in the standings, Man City remain one of the tournament favorites. Their squad depth, attacking versatility, and tactical discipline have been evident in both games, and Guardiola will be eager to maintain that momentum heading into the knockout rounds.

For Al Ain and their Serbian manager Vladimir Ivic, it was another sobering defeat. Following their 5-0 loss to Juventus, Sunday’s result confirms their exit from the competition with no goals scored and 11 conceded in two matches.

They had a brief moment of hope early in the first half when Nassim Chadli forced a fine save from Stefan Ortega, but they were otherwise overwhelmed by Man City’s intensity and precision.

With Haaland finding his scoring form, Gundogan leading by example, and young stars like Echeverri and Bobb making an impact, Man City look ready for a deep run in the Club World Cup. Guardiola will likely weigh his options carefully before the Juventus clash, knowing that first place in the group could provide a more favorable path to the final.

As the competition heats up, Man City continue to assert themselves as one of world football’s most formidable forces — not just in England, but on the global stage.

Source- EWN