Real Madrid, Manchester City roll into Club World Cup's Round of 16 as group stage ends
The European giants have awoken at the Club World Cup.
Manchester City showed its might, group stage or not, and overwhelmed Juventus with a 5-2 win to cap a dominant Group G run that featured three wins, 13 goals and zero doubt. Despite the crushing loss, Juventus advances after its wins over Al-Ain and Wydad. Real Madrid also rolled to a group-clinching win over Salzburg while Al Hilal scored early and held Pachuca scoreless to claim Group H's second spot.
Thursday's Club World Cup results
The former Premier League champions secured a victory over their fellow European giants, Juventus. Jérémy Doku opened the scoring in the 9th minute before Juventus' Teun Koopmeiners equalized two minutes later. The Citizens went into halftime with a 2-1 lead after Pierre Kalulu scored an own goal in the 26th minute. Two of City's biggest stars put the nail in the coffin in the second half, with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scoring in the 52nd and 69th minutes. With 15 minutes to spare, Savinho added more to the onslaught as City won Group G without a scratch despite Dušan Vlahović scoring for Juventus in the 84th. As Group G winners, City moves on to face Al Hilal on Monday in Orlando.
Although Wydad scored early with a fourth-minute goal from Cassius Mailulu, Al Ain got the last laugh and avoided the bottom of Group G. Al Ain's goals came relatively close with a penalty conversion from Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba right before halftime and a goal from Alejandro Romero at the 50th. Apart from the close score, the possession was near-evenly split as both sides exited the competition.
Pachuca's hopes for at least a respectable showing at the Club World Cup were dashed within 22 minutes of its final group stage match against Al Hilal. That's because Salem Al-Dawsari scored a lovely floater over the head of Pachuca's Sebastian Roca off a skillful assist from Nasser Al Dawsari. Al Hilal would take the 1-0 lead in the break, then finish off the Mexican side with a defensive clinic in the second half before doubling the lead in stoppage time through Marcos Leonardo.
Real Madrid easily dispatched RB Salzburg to win Group H with two-first half goals, including a slick Jude Bellingham assist to an attacking Vinícius Jr. for the opener. Moments later, Bellingham would once again break down Salzburg's backline, somehow finding Viní Jr., who unselfishly dished it to Federico Valverde for the wide open goal. Gonzalo Garcia would make it 3-0 in the 84th minute. Real Madrid gets Juventus in the knockout round on Tuesday in Miami.
Highlight of the day
Come for the goal, stay for the celebration.
Final Group G and Group H standings
Rank
Group G
Record (W-D-L)
Goal Differential
Points
1
Manchester City
(3-0-0)
11
9
2
Juventus
(2-0-1)
5
6
3
Al Ain
(1-0-2)
-10
3
4
Wydad
(0-0-3)
-6
0
Rank
Group H
Record (W-D-L)
Goal Differential
Points
1
Real Madrid
(2-1-0)
+5
7
2
Al Hilal
(1-2-0)
+2
5
3
RB Salzburg
(1-1-1)
-2
4
4
Pachuca
(0-0-3)
-5
0
Club World Cup Round of 16 schedule
Saturday, June 28
Match 49: Palmeiras vs. Botafogo at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; 12 p.m. ET on DAZN
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Match 50: SL Benfica vs. Chelsea FC at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte; 4 p.m ET on DAZN
Sunday, June 29
Match 51: PSG vs. Inter Miami at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, 12 p.m. ET, TNT/DAZN/Univision
Match 52: Flamengo vs. Bayern Munich at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, 4 p.m. ET, DAZN
Monday, June 30
Match 54: Inter Milan vs. Fluminense at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, 3 p.m. ET, DAZN
Match 55: Manchester City vs. Al Hilal at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, 9 p.m. ET, DAZN
Tuesday, July 1
Match 56: Real Madrid vs. Juventus at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, 3 p.m. ET, DAZN
Match 57: Dortmund vs. Monterrey at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, 9 p.m. ET, DAZN
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