Man City Thrash Juventus to Extend Club World Cup Streak

Manchester City delivered a commanding performance on Thursday, defeating Juventus 5-2 to clinch first place in Group G at the Club World Cup. The result marked the third consecutive win for Pep Guardiola’s side and potentially spares them from facing Real Madrid in the upcoming round of 16.

The match at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah saw Manchester City dominate from the outset. Bernardo Silva nearly opened the scoring within five minutes, forcing Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio into a reflex save. City’s breakthrough came soon after, with Rayan Ait-Nouri threading a precise pass through the Juventus defense for Jeremy Doku, who finished clinically into the far corner.

Juventus managed to level the score following a costly error by Ederson. The City goalkeeper’s misplaced pass was intercepted by Teun Koopmeiners, who capitalized by slotting the ball past Ederson from close range. However, the Italian side gifted the advantage back moments later when defender Pierre Kalulu inadvertently turned a low Matheus Nunes cross into his own net, restoring City’s lead.

A brief rain shower shortly before halftime provided a temporary lull in tempo, but Guardiola opted for further firepower by introducing Erling Haaland at the break. The Norwegian striker wasted no time making an impact, scoring within seven minutes after receiving a pass from Nunes and bundling in his 300th career goal.

In a significant development for City, midfielder Rodri made his first start since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2024. He was substituted in the 66th minute to applause, with Ilkay Gundogan taking his place. Rodri’s presence brought stability to the midfield, a factor Guardiola later acknowledged as vital to the team’s performance.

City’s pressure intensified in the final third of the match. Haaland collected a long pass from Ederson and attempted to find substitute Phil Foden in the box. Although the cross missed its intended target, Savinho recovered the ball and set up Foden for a tap-in. Minutes later, Savinho added a goal of his own with a powerful strike that rebounded off the crossbar following a save from Haaland’s shot.

Juventus Struggles to Contain City’s Attack

Juventus struggled to mount a meaningful response throughout the match but managed a late consolation. Substitute Kenan Yildiz delivered a deft assist to Dusan Vlahovic, who struck past Ederson from the edge of the area.

City’s comprehensive win came as a morale boost following a challenging domestic season in which they finished 13 points behind Premier League winners Liverpool. The performance also served as a statement of intent as the European champions seek further silverware at the Club World Cup.

Guardiola praised his team’s energy and cohesion post-match, highlighting the return of Rodri as a pivotal element. He noted that the belief and intensity displayed were reminiscent of the club’s best periods and expressed satisfaction at the collective effort.

Juventus head coach Igor Tudor admitted the gulf in quality between the two teams. He acknowledged City’s superiority and refrained from offering excuses, stating that his side was outplayed in every phase of the game. Despite the heavy defeat, Tudor maintained that his players gave their maximum and emphasized the need to regroup ahead of their knockout fixture.