Club World Cup: Man City, Real Madrid, Juventus advance with wins in knockout stage

Atlanta: Manchester City are through to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Round of 16 with a game to spare after a resounding 6-0 win over Al Ain on Monday (IST), that also confirms Juventus’ qualification.

Ilkay Gundogan (2), Claudio Echeverri, Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki all opened their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 accounts as hopes of knockout-stage football were extinguished for both their outplayed Emirati opponents and City’s opening-game victims, Wydad AC.

Pep Guardiola’s side weren’t always at their sparkling best, but the outcome was never really in doubt from the moment Gundogan gave them an eighth-minute lead. Only the German will know for sure whether the goal was a perfectly judged chip, an attempted cross or, quite possibly, a little of both.

Either way, it settled City nerves and was followed by a goal of unquestionable brilliance. Echeverri became the second Argentinian at this tournament, after Lionel Messi, to score direct from a free-kick, and his superb curling effort was every bit as impressive as at his famous countryman's.

It was a spectacular way for the teenager to notch his first City goal, and he was soon joined on the scoresheet by the club’s most prolific player.

Erling Haaland had gone a close a couple of times and, when Rami Rabia was penalised for a foul on Nathan Ake in first-half stoppage time, he seized his chance, sending the keeper the wrong way with a coolly dispatched penalty.

Guardiola’s side continued to dominate in a one-sided second half, and saw their advantage extended by Gundogan’s second – lofted home after a clever reverse pass from Bernardo Silva – and a smart finish from substitute Oscar Bobb.

Further gloss was added to the scoreline with a minute remaining when Haaland teed up Cherki to rifle home his first goal since joining the club from Lyon.

Gurdiola's men will now turn to Orlando, where an in-form Juventus – who lead the section on goals scored – will offer City stiff resistance in the battle to finish top.

Ten-man Real Madrid defeated Mexico's Pachuca 3-1 in their Group H clash at Charlotte.

Madrid entered the match at Bank of America Stadium sitting second in the group behind FC Salzburg, following a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in their opener. The Spanish giant was without star striker Kylian Mbappe, who is recovering from gastroenteritis.

Center back Raul Asencio was shown a straight red card just seven minutes into the match for fouling Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon as the last defender outside the box.

Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for Madrid in the 35th minute, collecting a pass from Fran Garcia inside the box and firing into the bottom right corner. Madrid doubled the lead just before halftime when Gonzalo Garcia set up Arda Guler, who slotted the ball into the far post.

Federico Valverde added a third for Madrid in the 70th minute before Elias Montiel pulled one back for Pachuca ten minutes later.

Al Hilal will face Pachuca in their final group match on Thursday in Nashville, while Real Madrid meets Salzburg the same day in Philadelphia.

Earlier in Washington, D.C., Salzburg and Al Hilal played to a goalless draw. The win lifts Real Madrid to the top of the group with four points, ahead of Salzburg on goal difference. Al Hilal sits third with two points, while Pachuca's Club World Cup hopes end with back-to-back defeats.

A double from Kenan Yildiz - including a sensational strike - inspired Juventus to 4-1 win despite Wydad AC netting their first goal. Agencies

Also Read: Bumrah’s new-ball spell will go long way in deciding who wins, says Hussain

Also Watch: