Manchester City and Al Hilal gear up for their highly anticipated clash in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Round of 16. While Manchester City enter as the presumed favorites, Al Hilal, riding a wave of undefeated momentum, promise to deliver a formidable challenge. Under the mentorship of Pep Guardiola, City carry a wealth of experience and an impressive competitive pace that could prove daunting for their Arab counterparts.
Al Hilal defy expectations as tournament underdogs by reaching the Round of 16 with remarkable team cohesion. Simone Inzaghi, despite his recent appointment, has instilled a solid defensive strategy, spotlighting the stellar performances of Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves. Offensively, the roster exhibits a diverse array of tactics, no longer leaning on a single star, which renders them an unpredictable and dangerous opponent.
With enthusiasm running high, Manchester City arrive as a strong contender for victory, buoyed by three consecutive wins. Their offensive prowess is evident, as they notched an impressive 13 goals during the group stage, marking them among the tournamentās highest scorers. Defensively, the English side remains steadfast, conceding only two goals throughout, showcasing a robust backline poised to handle any threat.
Manchester City confirmed lineup vs Al Hilal
As Manchester City gear up for their clash against Al Hilal, Pep Guardiolaās squad arrives in good health, with no fresh injuries reported. Mateo Kovacic and Claudio Echeverri remain sidelined, but the rest of the lineup looks robust. Guardiola might opt for consistency, potentially mirroring the squad that triumphed over Juventus. Norwegian star Erling Haaland will reclaim his spot in the starting eleven, replacing Omar Marmoush.
Savinho #26 of Manchester City is challenged by Lloyd Kelly #6 of Juventus FC during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Juventus FC and Manchester City FC at Camping World Stadium on June 26, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
With this in mind, Manchester City will play as follows against Al Hilal: Ederson Moraes; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvaldiol, Rayan Ait Nouri; Tijjani Reijnders, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva; Savio, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku.
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Where to watch Manchester City vs Al-Hilal live in the USA: FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Al Hilal confirmed lineup vs Manchester City
Al Hilal face the upcoming match without four key figures: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Salem Al-Dawsari, Al-Malki and Hassan AlTambakti are all out due to injuries. Despite these setbacks, the team boasts considerable attacking prowess, led by stars such as Malcom and Leonardo. Their real strength relies in their midfield with Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic anchoring the team with defensive solidity.
For this reason, head coach Simone Inzaghi will field the following team against Manchester City: Yassine Bounou; Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moteb Al-Harbi, Renan Lodi; Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Nasser Aldawsari; Malcom, Marcos Leonardo, Mohammed Kanno.
