Impressive City Show Title Credentials with Juve Demolition
The only team to advance into the last 16 with three victories, they showed intent and great finishing to top Group G, exposing Juve's defensive fragility in searing heat in Orlando.
The game also saw Rodri make his first start for City since September, playing 67 minutes.
By finishing top of their group, City will likely avoid a last-16 clash against Real Madrid, who will clinch Group H if they beat RB Salzburg later on Thursday.
Juve will probably have to face the 15-times European champions, who are expected to welcome back France forward Kylian Mbappe following a bout of illness.
Juventus coach Igor Tudor said: "They were better. Better team. They controlled. It was difficult to play. Then we wanted to change a little bit to the team. It was not easy to make pressing this way. They were much better."
Juventus goalscorer Teun Koopmeiners said: "They had a lot of touches on the ball. First half, we stayed a little too low. When we recovered the ball it was quite difficult to come out. Second half, they were stronger than us and they scored a couple of goals. We need to learn from it."
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said: "I liked the way we did it. It has been a long time since we had a performance like this on and off the ball. The players were committed and we are happy to beat a top side.
"This is just one game, but I think the players felt again what it was like to be a good team. The belief always comes from your performances, not your past."
On Rodri's return to the starting lineup, Guardiola said: "We have missed him a lot. He knows exactly what he has to do with the ball, and his personality. I didn't expect him to play as many minutes. He will be ready for the next one."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi academy launches media training program in Switzerland
RIYADH: The Saudi Media Academy of the Ministry of Media launched the first phase of its Media Leaders Track in Switzerland through an intensive global event management training program. Held in collaboration with EHL Hospitality Business School, the launch included the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the academy and EHL. The ceremony was attended by the assistant minister of media and chairman of the academy's board, Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, along with other officials, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The agreement aims to foster international collaboration and cultural exchange, supporting the ministry's goal of empowering national media talent. It was signed by the academy's CEO, Khalid Zain Al-Abdeen, and EHL associate dean, Stephane Haddad. The five-day training camp offers hands-on workshops led by international experts and site visits to world-class event institutions. It focuses on planning, organizing, and executing major events, team leadership, and audience engagement. This is the first practical phase of a four-stage track, followed by a digital advertising course in Riyadh, an international media camp in Singapore, and a final advanced leadership communication course. Targeting professionals and creatives across sectors, the program aims to enhance media presence, improve management of national events, and strengthen Saudi Arabia's global representation.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Atalanta Signs Poland Wing-Back Nicola Zalewski After Short Stay at Inter Milan
Atalanta has signed Nicola Zalewski with the Poland wing-back leaving Inter Milan after just seven months and 17 games, including a Champions League final. Atalanta did not disclose a transfer fee in the deal announced late Monday for the 23-year-old Zalewski. It was reported to be 17 million euros ($20 million). That would be about 10 million euros ($11.7 million) profit for Inter which signed Zalewski on loan from Roma in February. The move was made permanent with a 6.3 million euro ($7.4 million) deal in June, while the club was in the United States at the Club World Cup. Inter lost in the round of 16 against Fluminense. Zalewski will stay in the Champions League this season after Atalanta qualified by placing third in Serie A. In the final last season, he came on as a second-half substitute in Inter's 5-0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain. The Italy-born Zalewski has played 29 times for Poland including two games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and two at the 2024 European Championship in Germany Atalanta said Zalewski is its fifth offseason signing for the club, which is majority-owned by United States investor Stephen Pagluica. The team is now coached by Ivan Jurić after the inspirational Gian Piero Gasperini left to join Roma after nine years in Bergamo that brought the 2024 Europa League title.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Atmane Gifts Birthday Boy Sinner Pokemon Card Ahead of Cincinnati Semi-final
Frenchman Terence Atmane made sure Jannik Sinner had a 24th birthday to remember, gifting the world number one a Pokemon card before going on to lose their semi-final meeting at the Cincinnati Open on Saturday. Top seed and defending champion Sinner ended qualifier Atmane's run at the Masters 1000 tournament with a 7-6(4) 6-2 win. Before the match, the pair were seen talking to each other in the tunnel leading onto center court, where Atmane handed over the collectable based on the hit Japanese video game series and TV show. "It's his birthday today so I had to give him a little something," Atmane told reporters. "I was thinking last night about what I should give to him. I was like, 'I think I still have some Pokemon cards that I brought from France. Why not give him just a Pokemon card?' I'm a Pokemon card collector. I think this is the perfect gift. "If that was my birthday, I would be so happy that someone gave me a Pokemon card." Sinner, who was also serenaded with "Happy Birthday" by the crowd, was grateful and slightly bemused by the gift. "I was talking to him a little bit in the locker room. He has one of the biggest collections of Pokemon cards, and I'm very lucky that I got one of his ones," the Italian told Tennis Channel. "It was just a nice moment before a match, we didn't know each other at all. So, it was a nice moment ... The card was a kind of Pikachu. It said 30 damage to itself, so I don't know if that is good or not!" For Atmane, the defeat ended a remarkable run in Cincinnati during which he recorded wins over top-10 players Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune. "Absolutely crazy, insane. I still cannot believe that I made the semi-finals here," said world number 136 Atmane, who only a couple of months ago suffered back-to-back first-round exits in the second-tier Challenger Tour. "Playing against Jannik today was also a very good memory for myself and I will remember that for a long time." He said he had worked a lot on his mental strength and controlling his emotions. "I think that's the key for me to succeed at a high level."
