Club World Cup results: Real Madrid pulls off win despite early red, Man City and Juventus advance
Sunday brought clarity, and a few surprises, to the Club World Cup picture, as European powers flexed their muscles and two Round of 16 spots were officially clinched.
Juventus and Manchester City continued to dominate Group G with convincing wins, setting up a Thursday showdown to decide the group's top seed. Real Madrid, down to 10 men early, still outclassed Pachuca to stay in the hunt, while Al Hilal and Red Bull Salzburg battled to a gritty stalemate that kept both sides' hopes alive in a tightly contested Group H.
Sunday's Club World Cup results
Juventus is holding strong at the top of Group G after cruising to another dominant win on Sunday. The Italian giants kicked off the scoring with a little help from Wydad AC, who hit in an own goal in the sixth minute to give Juventus an early lead. From there, Kenan Yıldız picked up his first of two goals in the 16th minute, then scored again in the 69th; in the 25th, Wydad AC did keep Juventus from a clean sheet with a goal from midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch. Juventus sealed the win with a penalty kick from Dušan Vlahović late in stoppage time. After their wins Sunday, Juve and Manchester City both advance to the Round of 16 and will battle for Group G's top spot on Thursday.
It took only eight minutes for Real Madrid-Pachuca to take a turn, after Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio was given a very early red card for a sloppy tackle on star Pachuca striker Salomón Rondón.
Though Pachuca significantly outshot Real Madrid early on, it was the Spanish club that struck first, and then second, as Jude Bellingham notched a goal in the 35th minute and midfielder Arda Güler doubled that lead ten minutes later. Pachuca continued to hunt for a goal throughout the second half, but then Real Madrid struck one more time, with a 70th-minute goal from Federico Valverde. The Mexican squad finally found the back of the net with a goal from 19-year-old Elías Montiel, but it wasn't enough. Instead, Pachuca settles for a frustrating loss against the short-handed Real Madrid and has been eliminated.
Al Hilal and Salzburg battled to the Club World Cup's fifth scoreless draw in a tense stalemate that featured another heroic performance from Yassine Bounou. The Moroccan goalkeeper was named the player of the match after a string of sharp saves, including a point-blank stop early in the second half that helped preserve the clean sheet. Salzburg, fresh off a historic opening win over Pachuca, struggled to break down Al Hilal despite outshooting the Saudi side 6-4 in shots on goal. Al Hilal, which held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in their opener, edged possession and generated 19 total attempts, but couldn't find a way past Salzburg's backline.
Manchester City cruised into the Club World Cup Round of 16 with a commanding 4-0 win over Al Ain, fueled by first-half goals from Ilkay Gündogan, Claudio Echeverri and Erling Haaland. Gündogan secured a brace with a second-half chip shot from inside the box before Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki added goals of their own. The win builds on City's 2-0 tournament-opening triumph over Wydad AC and guarantees their place in the Round of 16. They'll face Juventus on Thursday with the Group G lead at stake. For Al Ain, who were routed 5-0 by Juve in their opener, it was another harsh lesson against European opposition as they sit eliminated at the bottom of the group.
Highlight of the day
Current group standings
Rank
Group G
Record (W-D-L)
Goal Differential
Points
1
Juventus
2-0-0
+8
6
2
Manchester City
2-0-0
+7
6
3
Wydad
0-0-2
-5
0
4
Al Ain
0-0-2
-10
0
Rank
Group H
Record (W-D-L)
Goal Differential
Points
1
Real Madrid
1-1-0
+2
4
2
RB Salzburg
1-1-0
+1
4
3
Al Hilal
0-2-0
0
2
4
Pachuca
0-0-2
-3
0
Club World Cup schedule for Monday, June 23
Group B: Seattle Sounders FC vs. Paris Saint-Germain at Lumen Field in Seattle; 3 p.m. ET on DAZN
Advertisement
Group B: Atlético de Madrid vs. Botafogo at Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles; 3 p.m. ET on DAZN
Group A: Inter Miami CF vs. SE Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami; 9 p.m. ET on DAZN
Group A: FC Porto vs. Al Ahly FC at MetLife Stadium in New Rutherford; 9 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/DAZN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Evan Ndicka offered to Real Madrid
Roma will have to try to find a way to keep Evan Ndicka beyond this summer. As important as he has been this past season, the Ivorian centreback continues being linked with an exit from the Italian capital. Advertisement Despite reassurances from people close to Roma that the club are planning to keep him, several top European clubs are monitoring Ndicka's situation. According to Leggo, Ndicka's entourage have recently offered the player to Real Madrid who are searching for an additional defender. However, Roma's demands are currently putting off most of Ndicka's potential suitors: the Giallorossi are said to be asking for minimum 40 million euros.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Ilkay Gundogan ‘thinks' he will stay at Manchester City this summer and has ‘several years' at highest level
Ilkay Gundogan believes he will be a Manchester City player come the end of the transfer window as he vowed to keep playing at the top level for several more years. The 34-year-old scored twice for Manchester City as they beat Al Ain 6-0 in their second Club World Cup group stage game, but there has been speculation linking him with a move away from the club in the last week. Advertisement He is into the final year of his contract, and Pep Guardiola has admitted he is looking to trim his squad, but the German international appeared confident that he would see out his contract. 'I think so, yes,' he said. 'I have a one-year contract. And I'm very happy here. I think everyone knows that. 'And I am committed to the competition. And I'm enjoying my football. I still believe that I have several years in me. To play on the highest level by taking good care of myself. 'I think I've proven that. Also in last season where I didn't miss a game. So I'm available. I'm fit. I feel really good. And I want to play on the highest level for much longer.' Gundogan spent seven years at City before joining Barcelona in 2023 but returned to the Etihad last summer. Guardiola is into his tenth season in charge and also only has a year remaining on his deal, but Gundogan enjoys the freshness of playing under him even after so long together. 'It's a big privilege. I mean, otherwise I would have not joined again,' he said. 'Otherwise I would have not spent so many years with him at this club. I think it's just something that he has, that he's able to do. To make players feel they have to compete on the highest level. They have to reach their best to be able to play in this team, first of all. 'But then also you know that every training session, every game is just a joy. If it turns out to be the way we want to play. That's why he's the best. That's why he has won so much, so many titles. 'That's why also probably all the players in the world would love to play for him. And the same reason is for me.'
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Diego Coppola, Brighton's new centre-back from Serie A: Here's what to expect
Before Brighton & Hove Albion's final home game of last season against new champions Liverpool, Fabian Hurzeler spoke about what he felt they needed to be shopping for in his second summer transfer window as head coach. 'The games just get more physical, more athletic, and that is where we have to take care also in our squad,' Hurzeler told reporters. 'No matter if it is someone in the last line — who might be full-back, centre-back — who has this physicality, or a No 6 (midfielder) who has this physicality. Advertisement 'It is not we have a lack in this or that position. It is more about: where do we get an add-on to our squad? Where do we see a potential player who can help us with physicality?' The recruitment department hope they have found that player with the signing of Diego Coppola from Verona of Italy's Serie A for €11million (£9.4m/$12.7m), on a five-year contract. The 21-year-old centre-half, 6ft 4in (193cm) tall, appears to epitomise Hurzeler's wish. Salvatore Bocchetti, who coached Coppola at Verona in their academy and as assistant manager of the first team, tells The Athletic: 'He is physically strong and reads the game very well, but he is also surprisingly quick for his size, a combination that makes him very effective defensively.' The chart below, which compares a player's performance in key metrics with their positional peers across the top five domestic leagues in Europe, gives a good idea of Coppola's strengths. He is a towering presence in the air (aerial volume and aerial success), but also effective on the floor when making challenges against dribblers (one-v-one defending). The low front-foot and back-foot defending metrics feel counterintuitive, but because Verona had so little of the ball last season while finishing 14th in 20-team Serie A (a league-worst 38.7 per cent), he was tasked with that responsibility more than most. Adjust for opportunity, and that effect dissipates slightly. Using data from Opta via Coppola made the most interceptions in Europe's top five leagues last season (72), ahead of Sevilla's Jose Angel Carmona, Patrick Mainka of Heidenheim (both 68) and West Ham United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka (66), which highlights his powers of anticipation. In possession, low returns for ball retention, pass progression and link-up play on The Athletic wheel chart above, with a high ranking for launched passes, reflect he was playing for a team who were more often than not under the cosh, losing 21 of their 38 league games and finishing with a minus-32 goal difference. They are all aspects of his game which are likely to improve at Brighton. Advertisement 'He is a strong player,' says Bocchetti, a former Italy international centre-back during a playing career which included spells with Milan (on loan from Russian side Spartak Moscow), Genoa and Verona. 'He is arriving in the best league in the world and joining a great club. I am sure, with his professional attitude and open mindset, that it will be easy for him to improve further. This is definitely a big step forward in his career.' Coppola built his reputation as a committed defender as he rose through the ranks of Verona's academy. He made his first-team debut in December 2021, shortly before his 18th birthday, and went on to make 85 appearances for the northern Italian club, scoring four goals. He was a regular last season, playing 34 times in the league as Verona successfully fought against relegation. He had two years remaining on his contract when Brighton, after negotiations about the structure of the package, concluded a deal last week. Coppola's signing coincides with a significant step up in his international career. He made his senior debut for Italy in the 3-0 World Cup qualifying defeat away to Norway earlier this month. That tough baptism up against Erling Haaland and company, playing next to Inter's Alessandro Bastoni on the left of a back three, was followed three days later by a late substitute appearance as Luciano Spalletti's reign as head coach ended with a 2-0 home win against Moldova. Coppola switched quickly from the seniors to representing the under-21s in the age group's ongoing European Championship finals in Slovakia. He played a full part in Italy's last two group matches, a 1-0 win against the host nation and a 1-1 draw with Spain. Carmine Nunziata's youngsters qualified for the knockout phase as runners-up behind the Spanish and faced Germany in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Advertisement A hectic campaign came to a frustrating and exhausting conclusion for Coppola as Italy, reduced to nine men due to red cards for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto and Mattia Zanotti towards the end of normal time, lost 3-2 after extra time. Coppola was a commanding figure in the middle of Italy's back three in a goalless first half against opponents featuring his now Brighton team-mate Brajan Gruda on the right of Germany's attack. He demonstrated his defensive discipline twice to repel threatening situations by blocking shots inside his own penalty area. Booked 11 times for Verona last season, he was fortunate not to receive an early caution when he kicked the ball further away into touch twice in the same action — he would surely have been shown a yellow card in the Premier League. Coppola was disappointed with Nick Woltemade's equalising header in the 68th minute for Germany. He was beaten in the air from a corner by the 6ft 6ins Stuttgart centre-forward, the top scorer in the tournament with five goals. But he recovered from that setback and, with socks rolled down in extra-time, stood out in Italy's rearguard action with resilient defending and reserves of energy. He slumped to the ground inside the box when Nathaniel Brown struck in the 117th minute to give Germany victory. On the plus side, Coppola gets a few extra days to rest and recover before joining his Brighton team-mates in July for pre-season. Coppola is used to playing in different defensive setups. He played on the right of a back four and in the centre of a three for the under-21s in those group games. At Verona, he featured both as the central pivot in a three-man defence and in a four. That type of adaptability will surely be useful for Hurzeler. The move to the Premier League also provides Coppola with an opportunity to press his claims for further senior international recognition under Italy's new head coach Gennaro Gattuso as they try to qualify for next year's World Cup, having missed out in both 2018 and 2022. Hurzeler, returning to the theme of physicality in Coppola's signing announcement, said: 'He is still young, he is tall, strong and mobile, and he will give us a real physical presence.' Brighton saw off competition from among the big beasts of Italian football to sign Coppola. His move to the Premier League is not a surprise to Bocchetti. 'Some big Serie A clubs were also interested, but I think this is the best choice for him, and for Brighton too,' Bocchetti says. 'I'm very close to him, because I've seen him grow. I have nothing but good things to say about him. Advertisement 'Brighton have picked the right player, both on and off the pitch. He's humble, very professional and, despite being young, he already has a strong personality thanks to his experience in Serie A. I am confident he is already studying to improve his English. He is a very committed and focused person.'
