Match Report and Player Ratings: Juventus 2-5 Manchester City (FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage) | OneFootball

The FIFA Club World Cup group stage has come to end for Juventus and Manchester City, with the Blues leapfrogging their opponents in Orlando and potentially avoiding a last-16 meeting with Real Madrid thanks to a comprehensive 2-5 win.

It was a first-half of unpredictable twists and turns, not just on the pitch but in the skies as the weather moved between baking heat and torrential rain and back again, and which ended with City one in front after Jeremy Doku and Pierre Kalulu’s own goal sandwiched an equaliser from Teun Koopmeiners.

City were the better team throughout though, and got the goals their dominance deserved in the second half thanks to Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Savinho, so despite Dusan Vlahovic’s consolation, it’s three wins from three for Pep Guardiola’s side.

A confident and controlling start for Manchester City saw them narrowly prevented from taking the lead within five minutes, as Doku and Rayan Ait-Nouri linked up tantalisingly down the left to present Bernardo Silva with a chance inside the area, but Michele Di Gregorio threw out a leg to make the save.

The Italians didn’t heed the warning of the threat that the Blues’ Algerian and Belgian combo could produce though, as Ait-Nouri received the ball on the edge of the box and slipped a lovely ball through to Doku, who easily sidestepped Kalulu and curled clinically into the bottom corner.

But barely two minutes later the Old Lady were level with their first big sight of goal, as an error playing out from Ederson allowed Koopmeiners to seize possession, drive towards goal and fire between the goalkeeper’s legs to instantly restore parity.

The game settled into more of a rhythmic pattern for a while after that but City retook the lead just before the half-hour mark, thanks in part to their opponents; Savinho fed Matheus Nunes in a raid down the right and he fired the ball into an area unoccupied by his teammates, but nobody told the hapless Kalulu, who couldn’t sort out his feet and turned the ball into his own net in comically unfortunate fashion.

City forced Di Gregorio into routine saves from Savinho and Ait-Nouri as they pushed for a two-goal advantage on the verge of half-time, but the Italian was required to produce his very best when he tipped Omar Marmoush’s long-range strike just around the post as it bulleted towards the side netting – and the third goal almost arrived immediately after the break too, substitute Haaland only narrowly beaten by a flashed Savinho cross.

The Norwegian was soon presented with an opportunity from which it would be impossible not to score, although he almost did pull off that feat; Tijjani Reijnders slipped in Nunes to bear down on goal, with the Portuguese laying on an empty net for his striker to bobble in off both feet for 1-3.

Juve had barely laid a glove on City since their equalising goal but had a chance to reduce their rears midway through the second period as Dusan Vlahovic burst free for a one-on-one, only for Ederson to make up for his earlier mistake to paw the ball away – and mere moments later the Brazilian launched a pass up for Haaland to control and slide a dangerous pass into the area, where Savinho unselfishly left it for Foden to tuck away.

The Blues were rampant; a set-piece saw the ball fall in the area for Haaland to force another great save from Di Gregorio’s boot, but it ran to the edge of the box and Savinho cracked in a magnificent strike off the crossbar and in with his weaker right foot.

The Italians pulled back a consolation when Vlahovic escaped the marking of substitute Nico O’Reilly and lashed past Ederson, and City should have added a late sixth when Rayan Cherki shot straight at Di Gregorio, but the difference between the teams was reflected on the scoreline and they thoroughly earned top spot in Group G.

Here’s how we rated the players in Manchester City’s commanding victory over Juventus!

Player Ratings

Starting XI

Ederson – 7

Uncharacteristically faulted in handing Juventus their equaliser, but made up for it with a big save to preserve the two-goal lead and then immediate contribution to the fourth goal.

Matheus Nunes – 8.5 (MOTM)

Roamed from his right-back berth into various different areas, making a telling difference from advanced zones as he forced the second and third goals. Added to his enterprise with endless endeavour and defensive elegance.

Manuel Akanji – 7

Very little defending required of him, and deigned to keep things simple with the ball at his feet for the most part.

Ruben Dias – 7

Engaged in a highly physical confrontation with Vlahovic, getting the better of his opposite number more often than not. His charge did elude the defence to score eventually, but not the fault of the Portuguese.

Rayan Ait-Nouri – 7.5

Highly prominent in the early stages, combining fluidly with Doku and earning an assist for the winger. Not quite as involved later on but coasted through the game without facing a threat down his flank.

Rodri – 7.5

Had looked fairly rusty in his two substitute appearances to this point, but was far more recognisable as the irreplaceable anchor of Manchester City’s midfield today. Has work to do to recapture his loose ball-winning abilities, but was better in this regard today and rarely missed a beat with his passing.

Tijjani Reijnders – 8

So intelligent in his movement on and off the ball. Escaped attention with his evasive dribbling skills, and caused Juve all manner of headaches with his running in behind.

Bernardo Silva – 7.5

Aside from one miskicked corner which most of the City Xtra team could probably (maybe) have produced better than, he controlled the Blues’ midfield in the manner befitting a captain.

Savinho – 8.5

Similarly involved to his first group outing against Wydad, although couldn’t quite produce the same end product for much of the game. That all changed with unselfish assist work for the fourth goal and an outrageous strike for the fifth, giving him something tangible to show for his work.

Omar Marmoush – 7.5

Received some tricky passes and held up the ball well against Juventus’ physical backline. Did look knackered after 45 minutes of high-intensity pressing and running in behind, and was withdrawn at half-time.

Jeremy Doku – 8

Looked bang up for this game right from the start and lived up to that promise with an impressive early goal. Was a menace throughout the first-half, although saw his influence wane a little prior to his substitution.

Substitutes

Erling Haaland – 7.5

For the second straight game, got his name on the scoresheet but his hand in another of the goals was his more impressive contribution.

Ilkay Gundogan – 6.5

Got his foot on the ball and slotted into the passing game.

Phil Foden – 7

Seems to have taken the Club World Cup as his chance to express himself and rebuild his confidence, which he did with his trickery and by adding the fourth goal.

Nico O’Reilly – 6

Unruffled in possession but allowed Vlahovic in to score.

Rayan Cherki – 6

Toyed with Juventus with his dribbling but ought to have scored his second Manchester City goal when put in.