Monday's briefing: Man City progress as Real win marred by racism allegation
Manchester City hit Al Ain for six
Sensational six to secure their place in the next round. 🥶#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/r5CkjGkLQW
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 23, 2025
Ilkay Gundogan scored twice as Manchester City thrashed Al Ain 6-0 to secure their place in the last 16.
The Premier League side were far too strong for their Abu Dhabi-based opponents under a closed roof at Atlanta's spectacular Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The result seemed certain from the moment Gundogan, who has been linked with a move to Galatasaray, opened the scoring – perhaps fortuitously – by lobbing the keeper after eight minutes.
Teenager Claudio Echeverri marked his first City start by adding the second from a free-kick and Erling Haaland made it 3-0 from the penalty spot.
Gundogan finished off a neat move after 73 minutes before substitutes Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki struck late on to ensure City and Juventus will progress from Group G.
Juventus had earlier beaten Wydad Casablanca 4-1 in Philadelphia to also book their place in the knockout stage.
Racism allegation overshadows 10-man Real's win
Real Madrid overcame an early red card for defender Raul Asencio to beat Mexican side Pachuca 3-1 in Charlotte and close in on the last 16 of the Club World Cup.
Xabi Alonso's side had been held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal in their opening Group H game and were without Mbappe, who is recovering after being discharged from hospital following acute gastroenteritis.
Real Madrid saw defender Asencio sent off after just seven minutes for hauling down Salomon Rondon.
The LaLiga giants, though, held out against a spell of pressure from the Mexicans to break the deadlock through Jude Bellingham in the 35th minute before Arda Guler doubled the lead ahead of half-time.
Federico Valverde volleyed in a third with 20 minutes left, before the Mexicans grabbed a late consolation through Elias Montiel's deflected effort.
However, Alonso confirmed in his post-match press duties that Antonio Rudiger had been on the end of alleged racist abuse.
'That's what Rudiger said, and we believe him,' Alonso said. 'It is important to have zero tolerance in these kinds of situations. FIFA now is investigating. That's all I can say.'
Rashford eyes Yamal link-up
England forward Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future at Manchester United (Adam Davy/PA)
Marcus Rashford has revealed he would like to play alongside teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal at Barcelona.
Rashford signed a five-year contract with Manchester United in 2023, but spent the second half of the Premier League campaign on loan at Aston Villa.
The future of the 27-year-old under Ruben Amorim – who had left him out of several squads – remains uncertain, with Barcelona sporting director Deco last month saying the club 'like' Rashford.
England forward Rashford opened up about his ambitions in an interview with Spanish influencer Javi Ruiz, which was shared by BBC Sport.
Asked if he would like to be team-mates with Barca's 17-year-old scoring sensation Yamal, Rashford said: 'Yes, for sure. Everyone wants to play with the best. Hopefully… we'll see.'
'It's difficult to put into words what (Yamal) is doing because he's not supposed to be doing that at 16 or 17. I don't think we've seen that before.'
What's on today?
One last work session in California before heading to Seattle!#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/YcuM7zyqfz
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) June 22, 2025
After a shock defeat to Brazilian side Botafogo, European champions Paris St Germain will look to get their Club World Cup campaign back on track against Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field.
Copa Libertadores holders Botafogo head to the Pasadena Rose Bowl to take on Atletico Madrid in their final Group B match.
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Telegraph
17 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Erling Haaland beats ground in frustration as Man City ‘only' win 6-0
The scoreline may have been a thumping 6-0 but for Manchester City it was not quite enough. 'It felt like it cost us in the end,' Ilkay Gundogan, the scorer of two of their goals, admitted while Erling Haaland beat the ground in frustration at the final whistle. What does it mean? City are through to the last-16 of the Club World Cup, after being in one of the most mismatched of groups, but they must beat Juventus in Orlando on Thursday to finish in first place. The importance of that was not lost on the players or on manager Pep Guardiola who implored them to go for more goals at half-time, when they led 3-0. If they had scored seven then a draw would have been good enough against Juventus. And first place means they would avoid Real Madrid in the first knock-out round and more likely face RB Salzburg unless they suffer a shock defeat to the Austrians. And so by failing to show enough urgency and killer instinct it looked like a missed opportunity for City. Gundogan did not pull any punches. 'It felt like we needed the seventh (goal),' the midfielder said. 'We set that as our target at half-time but unfortunately we didn't start the second-half good enough. We were a bit slow. It felt like it cost us at the end.' In a sense it highlights some of the stark imbalances of this tournament that City are even talking about needing a seventh goal in their second group game. Their opponents, Al Ain, an Abu-Dhabi based club owned by the brother of City's Sheikh Mansour, are ranked 586th in the Opta power rankings – five places below Reading. So that puts them in context. 🎥 Gündoğan's second — straight from the ref cam! Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 - July 13 | Every Game | Free | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MCIAIN — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 23, 2025 They conceded five against Juventus and six against City – but the Italians then scored four (winning 4-1) against Wydad Casablanca who City only beat 2-0. It means they are level on goal difference but Juventus have scored one more goal and so all they need is a draw. Between them City and Juventus have scored 17 in four games and conceded one goal. But against Al Ain, City did not score in the second half until Gundogan added his second in the 73rd minute – and both his goals were well-taken as were all of them – so that was 28 'lost' minutes against a meagre, beaten opponent when they appeared to be going through the motions. 'It's difficult to find reasons for it sometimes. It's something that shouldn't have happened and maybe doesn't make sense because of the way we performed in the first-half,' Gundogan said. 'It's something we need to observe and get better because at the highest level you should not allow yourself to be not good for such a long time. It felt quite long to be honest. It felt at least five or 10 minutes too long in terms of the standards we have.' When the sixth goal went in – a wonderfully taken effort by substitute Rayan Cherki, his first for City, after a lovey dummy and combination with Haaland – it was telling that the players sprinted back for the re-start, having been encouraged by Ruben Dias with Bernardo Silva tapping an imaginary watch in the dugout. But there were only two minutes left and they rued their complacency and the number of chances they failed to take. 'With one more goal, we would have two options but we only have one now,' Guardiola said. 'It would be better but (what is) important is we are in the next phase. If you want to go through you have to face top, top teams so it does not matter. 'We spoke at half-time to try to score as many goals as possible. Juventus are another opponents and we want to finish first. We have to beat the Italian team. If we are second we will see who we face in the last 16.' But he knows it is likely to be Real Madid. City lost to Juventus – and to Real – in last season's Champions League but are, clearly, a different evolving team with four new signings to add to the four made in January. Cherki's contribution was eye-catching but so was that of Rayan Ait-Nouri at left-back following his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Having not had a specialist in that position since Joao Cancelo left in January 2023 – and even he was a converted right-back – it is one area that has now been solved and the 24-year-old Algerian was excellent as he was encouraged to attack by Guardiola. There was also a first City goal, on his first start, by 19-year-old Argentinian Claudio Echeverri with a stunning free-kick although unfortunately he had to go off at half-time due to injury. By then Haaland had added a third from a penalty, after Gundogan's chipped opening goal, with the other scorer being Oscar Bobb who came on as a second-half substitute and scored his first City goal since January 2024 following a long-term injury. But a seventh would not go in and City have, undoubtedly, suddenly made it harder for themselves if they are to win this tournament.
The National
17 minutes ago
- The National
Man City progress as Real win marred by racism allegation
Real Madrid got their first victory in the United States after recovering from an early red card to beat Mexican side Pachuca 3-1 in Charlotte despite missing Kylian Mbappe, while Juventus again impressed. Manchester City hit Al Ain for six Sensational six to secure their place in the next round. 🥶#FIFACWC — FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 23, 2025 Ilkay Gundogan scored twice as Manchester City thrashed Al Ain 6-0 to secure their place in the last 16. The Premier League side were far too strong for their Abu Dhabi-based opponents under a closed roof at Atlanta's spectacular Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The result seemed certain from the moment Gundogan, who has been linked with a move to Galatasaray, opened the scoring – perhaps fortuitously – by lobbing the keeper after eight minutes. Teenager Claudio Echeverri marked his first City start by adding the second from a free-kick and Erling Haaland made it 3-0 from the penalty spot. Gundogan finished off a neat move after 73 minutes before substitutes Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki struck late on to ensure City and Juventus will progress from Group G. Juventus had earlier beaten Wydad Casablanca 4-1 in Philadelphia to also book their place in the knockout stage. Racism allegation overshadows 10-man Real's win Real Madrid overcame an early red card for defender Raul Asencio to beat Mexican side Pachuca 3-1 in Charlotte and close in on the last 16 of the Club World Cup. Xabi Alonso's side had been held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal in their opening Group H game and were without Mbappe, who is recovering after being discharged from hospital following acute gastroenteritis. Real Madrid saw defender Asencio sent off after just seven minutes for hauling down Salomon Rondon. The LaLiga giants, though, held out against a spell of pressure from the Mexicans to break the deadlock through Jude Bellingham in the 35th minute before Arda Guler doubled the lead ahead of half-time. Federico Valverde volleyed in a third with 20 minutes left, before the Mexicans grabbed a late consolation through Elias Montiel's deflected effort. However, Alonso confirmed in his post-match press duties that Antonio Rudiger had been on the end of alleged racist abuse. 'That's what Rudiger said, and we believe him,' Alonso said. 'It is important to have zero tolerance in these kinds of situations. FIFA now is investigating. That's all I can say.' Rashford eyes Yamal link-up England forward Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future at Manchester United (Adam Davy/PA) Marcus Rashford has revealed he would like to play alongside teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal at Barcelona. Rashford signed a five-year contract with Manchester United in 2023, but spent the second half of the Premier League campaign on loan at Aston Villa. The future of the 27-year-old under Ruben Amorim – who had left him out of several squads – remains uncertain, with Barcelona sporting director Deco last month saying the club 'like' Rashford. England forward Rashford opened up about his ambitions in an interview with Spanish influencer Javi Ruiz, which was shared by BBC Sport. Asked if he would like to be team-mates with Barca's 17-year-old scoring sensation Yamal, Rashford said: 'Yes, for sure. Everyone wants to play with the best. Hopefully… we'll see.' 'It's difficult to put into words what (Yamal) is doing because he's not supposed to be doing that at 16 or 17. I don't think we've seen that before.' What's on today? One last work session in California before heading to Seattle!#FIFACWC — Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) June 22, 2025 After a shock defeat to Brazilian side Botafogo, European champions Paris St Germain will look to get their Club World Cup campaign back on track against Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field. Copa Libertadores holders Botafogo head to the Pasadena Rose Bowl to take on Atletico Madrid in their final Group B match.
BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
Gundogan 'very happy' at Man City
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says he is "very happy" at Manchester City and wants to "play at the highest level for much longer" after starring at the Club World Cup on 34, scored twice as City thrashed UAE side Al Ain 6-0 to progress to the last 16 of the competition in the United Germany midfielder has been linked with a move to Galatasaray and boss Pep Guardiola has been open about wanting to work with a smaller squad this season."I have one more year left on my contract and I'm very happy here," said player of the match Gundogan. "I think everybody knows that."I am committed to that competition and enjoying my football. I still believe I have several years in me at the highest level by taking good care of myself. I've proven last season where I didn't miss a game."I'm available, I'm fit - I want to play at the highest level for much longer."Guardiola was asked about Gundogan's future on Saturday and said: "No news is good news. So I don't know anything, I didn't speak with him."If he will not be part [of the squad], he would not be here. But at the same time, we have - right now - a long squad, too many players, so we cannot go with 26 or 27 players this season."
