Exploring the Statistics Ahead of Man City’s Showdown with Al Ain at the Club World Cup

It has been over 11 years since Manchester City faced Al Ain, with the two clubs last meeting in a friendly match back in May 2014.

On that occasion, a determined City, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, won decisively with a scoreline of 3-0. The goals were netted by Rony Lopes, Stefan Jovetic, and Jordy Hiwula, all within a rapid 26-minute stretch during the second half.

Pep Guardiola will be hoping for a repeat of that result as City seeks to advance to the knockout stages of this summer’s Club World Cup. Under Guardiola’s leadership, his teams have scored 27 goals and conceded only two in their Club World Cup appearances so far.

In their opening match against Wydad Casablanca, City cruised to a 2-0 victory at Lincoln Financial Field, marking Guardiola’s ninth straight win in various formats of the Club World Cup. Meanwhile, Al Ain endured a disappointing 5-0 loss to Juventus at Audi Field, one of the largest defeats recorded in Club World Cup history.

Following Bayern Munich’s staggering 10-0 victory over Auckland City and Benfica’s 6-0 win against the same side, Al Ain’s five-goal margin matches the 6-1 defeat experienced by Al Jazira against Al Hilal in 2022.

Foden’s Place Uncertain Despite Strong Performance

Phil Foden’s standout display in the opening match does not guarantee him a starting spot for the second game in Group G. In fact, it is quite probable he may not start.

“We need to give many players some time on the pitch, especially those returning from long injuries. If they don’t play, they won’t find their rhythm,” Guardiola stated in a post-match interview.

“In the next match, we will likely see 10 different players as we aim for another win.”

This match will mark the first competitive encounter between an English club and a team from the United Arab Emirates, with Rico Lewis unavailable due to a red card received against Wydad. Mateo Kovacic also did not make the trip due to an Achilles injury.

Additionally, Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish were left behind as well.

Potential Debut for Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rodri on the Verge of Return

Rayan Ait-Nouri is anticipated to make his long-awaited debut for the club, and City’s supporters will be pleased to learn that Rodri is also likely to return from a long injury layoff.

Current form favours the Premier League champions. Besides their CWC opener and a 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace, City has achieved a goalless draw against Southampton and victories over Fulham (2-0), Bournemouth (3-1), and Wolves (1-0) in their recent matches.

In contrast, Al Ain did secure a 6-2 victory over Auckland City during Intercontinental Cup qualifying, but they faced a 3-0 defeat against Al Ahly in the same tournament’s quarter-finals.

Wydad Registered 12 Shots Against Guardiola’s Side

One area that Guardiola will want to see improvement in is the defence when facing Al Ain.

Although Wydad didn’t score, they managed to record 12 shots on goal, just three fewer than City’s 15. On another occasion, if one of those shots finds the net, it may disrupt what is usually a fluid City performance.

Making only four interceptions in that match may also cause concern, even though City isn’t particularly known for its physical play.

When you achieve pass completion rates upwards of 90% across the board, other statistics can be overlooked if they do not impact the game’s outcome.

Once Foden managed to score with less than two minutes gone on the clock, it was evident that it would be an uphill battle for Wydad, although they did perform admirably.

Guardiola’s relentless pursuit of perfection means he won’t ease off, and Al Ain must be wary if they encounter City on one of those days when they’re firing on all cylinders.

Nevertheless, Al Ain can take heart from Thembinkosi Lorch’s seven touches within the City box for Wydad, indicating that with players like Alejandro Romero and Soufiane Rahimi pushing forward, they may pose a threat to their opponents.

Al Ain Must Enhance Their Defensive Strategy Against City

Rahimi’s four touches in the Juventus penalty area were the most from any player on the Al Ain side, highlighting the need for improvement. Additionally, their defence needs significant work.

The Bianconeri were able to attack freely, keeping Al Ain at bay with relative simplicity; however, Al Ain’s five shots on target should have resulted in at least one goal.

Juve dominated possession with 63.4%, something that will delight Manchester City, yet Al Ain were outmatched in midfield, as Facundo Zabala engaged in 18 one-on-one duels—the highest of any player on the pitch.

Zabala’s six attempted tackles were also the most evident, providing decent resistance against what turned into a concerted assault.

While City remain overwhelming favourites, the Premier League side must not succumb to complacency, especially with numerous personnel changes expected.

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