Manchester City vs Al Ain live updates: Club World Cup 2025 predictions, team news, latest score
Hello one and all, and welcome to The Athletic , where today we've got live coverage of Manchester City vs Al Ain.
The 2025 Club World Cup group stage continues today with Pep Guardiola's side in action and able to take a big step towards the knockout stages with another win today.
Emirati side Al Ain, meanwhile, are hoping to bounce back from a 5-0 reverse at the hands of Juventus. Can they manage it?
Let's find out, right here, with all the build-up to the game, and beyond. Great to have you with us.
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Pep hails Ait-Nouri and Echeverri in wake of six-hit Al Ain triumph
Pep Guardiola praised the impact of new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri and Argentine youngster Claudio Echeverri after City sealed our ticket into the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup with a 6-0 win over Al Ain in Atlanta. Ilkay Gundogan led the way in our second Group G clash with a brace – the first via a sublime chip – with Echeverri then doubling our advantage with a wonderful free-kick on what was the young Argentine's first start for City. Advertisement With Erling Haaland also on target from the penalty spot, and substitutes Rayan Cherki and Oscar Bobb also netting, it made for a fine night's work. Summer signing Ait-Nouri caught the eye too with his ramping runs forward from left back, the Algerian providing a tantalising glimpse of what he will bring to the Club. And as he reflected on a solid night's work, the City boss was keen to praise Ait-Nouri and Echeverri's individual contributions to the cause. On Ait-Nouri in his first outing for City, he said: 'Wow, he played very good because we had to defend a back four and then a back five, he had to arrive in the end. Advertisement 'At the end he played really good. It's his first game but he's played in the Premier League for many years. 'He can help us play in that important role, then he went holding midfield in the pockets, he moves really well in small spaces. JUMPING FOR JOY: Claudio Echeverri after his stunning free-kick. 'He's intelligent and clear to defend and take the ball and especially in the final third he's so clever as well. 'I was really pleased for the game he played.' The boss was equally pleased with the contribution of Echeverri, the only downside being an ankle knock that forced him off at half-time. 'Since he's arrived the previous season, three or four months with us at the end of the training session he'd practice the free-kicks with the keeper and the wall alone. The others didn't,' Pep added. Advertisement 'He practiced and practiced, and the work paid off, he had the courage and quality. When you practice, it's like golf or basketball, the more you practice the more chances you have. It was a fantastic goal and he's an incredible player in the small spaces. 'Unfortunately, he couldn't continue after half-time for a problem with the ankle but it was really good that his first minutes in this competition, he made a fantastic goal. The free-kick was really, really good.' ACTION MAN: The City squad line up ahead of kick-off. The result means City are just behind Juventus in the table having scored one goal less than the Old Lady with both sides on six points from two games. Advertisement The two sides meet in Orlando on Thursday in a clash that will determine who claims top spot. 'What's important is we're in the next phase,' Pep added. 'We want to go through and in the end have to face top teams sooner or later, you see Brazilian teams and top-class European team, it's not a big concern. 'We have four days to play Juventus then after the next opponent. Happy to be one week more here in the United States.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
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Ilkay Gundogan rues Manchester City's failure to score seventh against Al Ain
Ilkay Gundogan bemoaned Manchester City's failure to score seven after thrashing Abu Dhabi side Al Ain 6-0 at the Club World Cup. Veteran midfielder Gundogan struck twice as City secured their place in the last 16 with a comfortable victory in Atlanta but it was not enough to take them top of Group G. Advertisement Their performance lifted them level on points and goal difference with Juventus but it is the Italians who will have the slight edge – courtesy of goals scored – heading into Thursday's meeting between the two teams in Orlando. City will now need to beat the Serie A outfit to ensure they avoid a clash with the winners of Real Madrid's group in the first knockout round. 'It felt like we needed the seventh at the end,' said Gundogan. 'We set that as our target at half-time but unfortunately we didn't start the second half good enough. We were a bit slow. Advertisement 'It felt like it cost us at the end.' Manager Pep Guardiola admitted Juve now hold an advantage over his side but played down its significance. Guardiola said: 'With one more goal we would have two options, but we only have one now. 'It would be better but the important thing is we are in the next phase. If you want to go through you have to face top, top teams so it does not matter. 'We see Brazilian teams, European top-class teams. It is no big concern. 'I like that we tried. We spoke at half-time of trying to score as many goals as possible. At the end we had chances to score more but that is fine. Advertisement 'We played a little bit better than the first game, especially in the second half, but there are some things we have to improve.' Guardiola changed his entire XI following their 2-0 win over Wydad Casablanca on Wednesday. Gundogan opened the scoring with a cross-shot after eight minutes before teenager Claudio Echeverri struck from a free-kick and Erling Haaland tucked away a penalty. Gundogan capped a fine move to grab the fourth after the break and substitutes Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki netted in the closing stages. Other near misses saw Josko Gvardiol head against the post and Phil Foden go close late on. Advertisement Gundogan's performance, coming after reports linking him with Galatasaray, which were downplayed by Guardiola this week, was particularly eye-catching. Guardiola said of the 34-year-old: 'He's an exceptional player, exceptional in all senses. 'He's really, really good and made a fantastic goal. He reads what we have to do every game. I'm really pleased.'
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an hour ago
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West wins 5th straight Shrine Game
Jun. 22—GREAT FALLS — Merek Mihelish hit Helena Capital teammate Dylan Almquist with a 26-yard touchdown pass late in the first half, Florence's Mason Arlington made a goal-line interception late and the West defeated the East 14-7 in the 78th East-West Shrine Game Saturday. The West built a 14-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown run by Boulder's Luke Oxarart at 4:41 of the third period, then held on at Memorial Stadium. Advertisement The East got back into it when it stopped Mihelish on a fourth-and-1 run, taking possession at the West 35-yard line. That set up a 10-yard touchdown strike from Malta's Stockton Oxarart — first cousin to Luke — to Centerville's Luke Kelley late in the third quarter. The East had two more chances to score: Arlington picked off a pass by Gallatin's Grant Vigen at the 2 with 3 minutes left to blunt the first. A final possession started at the West 27 after a short punt but ended with a fourth-and-long sack of Stockton Oxarart by Boulder's Brady Armstrong. It was the West's fifth straight win in the series, which raises money for the Spokane Shriner's Hospital. Advertisement The West team was stocked with area athletes: running back Kobe Dorcheus, safety Carson Baker, receiver Bridger Smith and tackle Ben Winters from Glacier; defensive end Scotty Dalen and safety Carson Gulick of Whitefish; guard Lane Voermans of Columbia Falls; and tight end Bryson LeCoure of Thompson Falls. No individual statistics were kept at the game. NOTE: contributed to this report.
