Manchester City hit six past Al Ain in Club World Cup group stage | OneFootball

Manchester City Crush Al Ain to March into Club World Cup Knockouts

Rampant City Hit Six Under Atlanta Roof

Manchester City delivered a commanding statement of intent as they overwhelmed Al Ain 6-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, securing their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup. With a performance built on early control, clinical finishing and midfield elegance, City gave their Abu Dhabi-based opponents no room to breathe beneath the stadium’s closed roof.

Ilkay Gundogan, ever the midfield metronome, struck twice, while Erling Haaland, Claudio Echeverri, Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki added their names to the scoresheet in a match that felt like it was decided well before half-time.

“It felt like we needed the seventh at the end,” Gundogan reflected. “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. It felt like it cost us at the end.”

Photo: IMAGO

Gundogan Pulls Strings in Midfield Showcase

City’s midfield was orchestrated by Gundogan, whose experience and eye for space gave them early command. He opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a delicate lob. Whether it was an intentional effort or a misplaced cross aimed for Haaland remains open to debate, but the execution was inch-perfect and the outcome beyond doubt.

With a move to Galatasaray reportedly on the horizon, Gundogan used the global stage to reinforce his enduring class. His second, a composed dink over goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, followed a slick exchange with Bernardo Silva, underlining City’s technical superiority.

The goals may have come easily but this was far from an idle exhibition. City pressed hard, their rotations tight and progressive. Their defensive line occasionally stuttered — Nassim Chadli broke through at one point only to be denied by Stefan Ortega — but there was never any serious threat of an Al Ain resurgence.

Echeverri and Haaland Add Cutting Edge

Teenager Claudio Echeverri made his first start for City and embraced the spotlight. After a collision that required treatment, the Argentine quickly reminded everyone why so much is expected of him. Stepping up to a free-kick after Matheus Nunes had been pulled down, he whipped the ball past Eisa to double City’s lead on 27 minutes.

Erling Haaland, never one to be outshone, was industrious and direct. He robbed Park Yong-woo soon after Echeverri’s strike and, despite missing from a tight angle, looked sharp throughout. He eventually found the net from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after VAR overturned the referee’s initial decision. Manuel Akanji had been wrestled to the turf by Ramy Rabia, and once the foul was confirmed, Haaland calmly sent Eisa the wrong way.

He had earlier spurned chances created by Josko Gvardiol and Phil Foden, the latter providing a pinpoint low cross which required two quick saves to keep out.

Late Goals Seal Progress as Juventus Loom

With the scoreline comfortable, City introduced fresh legs. Oscar Bobb struck with precision inside the post and new arrival Rayan Cherki opened his account with a neat low drive from the edge of the area. It was a ruthless conclusion to a tie that had long been heading only one way.

This emphatic win leaves Manchester City level on points and goal difference with Juventus in Group G. However, it is the Serie A side who hold the advantage on goals scored, a slender edge that may yet prove critical.

City will need to beat Juventus in Orlando on Thursday to avoid facing the winners of Real Madrid’s group in the first knockout stage. The stakes remain high, and despite the demolition of Al Ain, there will be little room for complacency.