With a decisive 5-2 victory over Juventus on Thursday, Manchester City cranked on the style to guarantee first place in Group G at the Club World Cup.
Pep Guardiola’s team’s third consecutive win raises the likelihood that City will escape seeing Real Madrid in the round of 16, which could now be Juventus’ fate. The outcome of the last two Group H games later on Friday will determine City’s and Juventus’ opponent. Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, made his first appearance for City since he tore his ACL in September. Guardiola’s club, which includes a number of new players, appears to be a much better team than the one that labored to finish 13 points behind Premier League winners Liverpool the previous season.
City took the lead right away when Bernardo Silva’s header in the fifth minute forced Michele Di Gregorio, the goalkeeper for Juventus, to make a save with his feet.
After a typical, methodical build-up, Rayan Ait-Nouri split the Juventus defense with a brilliant ball that Jeremy Doku picked up and sent into the far corner four minutes later, giving Guardiola’s new-look team the lead.
Teun Koopmeiners marched into the area and calmly fired home after intercepting City’s Brazilian keeper Ederson’s pass out, giving Juventus the equalizer.
However, in the 26th minute, French defender Pierre Kalulu gave Juventus back the favor by converting a low cross from Matheus Nunes into his own net while not under any pressure.
