Suppose you were trying to figure out Manchester City’s starting XI for the next season based on the opening two games of the FIFA Club World Cup. In that case, we’ve got bad news for you – it was a complete waste of your time.Pep Guardiola was keen to give all of his players some minutes against Wydad AC and Al Ain, making 11 changes from one fixture to the next! Third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and versatile defender John Stones are the only members of the 27-man squad yet to play any football in the United States.CWC: City’s six for Round of 16 – Al Ain broken into piecesHowever, that whirlwind is about to be abruptly stopped ahead of the third and crucial Group G game against Juventus on Thursday night (10 pm) in Orlando.City have to beat the Bianconeri to top the group and likely avoid a last-16 clash with Real Madrid, although that will only be confirmed a few hours later when the final games in Group H occur.If they win, the Cityzens are likely to face RB Salzburg (or maybe Al-Hilal) in the first match of the knockout stage.##NAJAVA_MECA_8992123##Therefore, the Premier League giants are expected to line up in the most reliable squad against Juve.Ederson will be between the sticks, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol should continue their centre-back partnership, while the newcomer Rayan Ait-Nouri will be the left-back. Matheus Nunes is seen on the left-back following Rico Lewis’ red card.Cherki brilliance 💫#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/4YumWeBKbP— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 24, 2025 Rodri will surely start in the midfield, along with Tijjani Reijnders, Bernardo Silva and probably Rayan Cherki, whose 15-minute cameo against Al Ain was exceptional. Erling Haaland has a guaranteed place in the attack, while Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Savinho will compete for that one place left on the wing.FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025Matchday 3MondayAtletico Madrid – Botafogo 1-0 (0-0)/Griezmann 87/Seattle – PSG 0-2 (0-1)/Kvaratskhelia 35, Hakimi 66/TuesdayInter Miami – Palmeiras 2-2 (1-0)/Allende 16, Suarez 65 – Paulinho 80, Mauricio 87/Porto – Al Ahly Cairo 4-4 (1-2)/Mora 23, Gomes 50, Aghehowa 53, Pepe 89 – Abou Ali 15, 45+2 pen, 51, Romdhane 64/Auckland – Boca Juniors 1-1 (0-1)/Gray 52 – Garrow 26 og/Benfica – Bayern 1-0 (1-0)/Schejlderup 13/WednesdayEsperance – Chelsea 0-3 (0-1)/Adarabioyo 45+3, Delap 45+5, George 90+7/Los Angeles – Flamengo 1-1 (0-0)/Bouanga 84 – Wallace Yan 86/Dortmund – Ulsan 1-0 (1-0)/Svensson 36/Mamelodi – Fluminense 0-0ThursdayInter Milan – River Plate 2-0 (0-0)/Espozito 72, Bastoni 90+2/Urawa RD – Monterrey 0-4 (0-3)/Berterame 34, 90+7, Deossa 30, Corona 39/22:00: (4.40) Juventus (3.50) Man.City (1.85)22:00: (2.55) Wydad Casablanca (3.35) Al Ain (2.75)Friday04:00: (1.48) Al Hilal (4.40) Pachuca (6.75)04:00: (9.00) Salzburg (5.90) Real Madrid (1.30)***odds are subject to change***
