Man City are among the clubs that have spent the most money in the transfer market since Pep Guardiola arrived. In the past six months alone, they have spent 342 million euros on eight new players.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal is known as the powerhouse of Saudi Arabia and Asian football.
Backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign investment fund (PIF), Al Hilal has strong financial resources.
In the 2024/25 season, Al Hilal invested approximately 103 million euros in transfers. Previously, in the 2023/24 season, the Riyadh capital team spent 376 million euros, with 90 million euros of this spent on Neymar - who left after a series of injuries.
Al Hilal's squad currently has experienced stars from Europe such as Malcom , R u ben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Renan Lodi, Kalidou Koulibaly and Joao Cancelo - former Man City defender.
The 6th match of the 1/8 round of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is a competition between rich teams.
In addition, the match evokes the battle between Pep Guardiola and Simone Inzaghi - who just signed a contract to lead Al Hilal right before the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup .
Man City's historic Champions League triumph in Istanbul 2023 came after Pep Guardiola's side beat Inzaghi-led Inter Milan.
Rodri scored the only goal of the final. The Spanish midfielder has just returned to the starting lineup after a serious injury since September 2024 and played brilliantly.
Man City are rated higher, but Inzaghi's Al Hilal can completely create a surprise in Orlando.
It can be said that Inzaghi is one of the few coaches who stands out for his contrasting philosophy with Pep Guardiola.
Inzaghi's signature three-man centre-back system once confused Guardiola in Istanbul. The final minutes of that match, when Man City were pressed, are still vivid in the fans' memories.
Therefore, Pep Guardiola does not want Man City players to be complacent against Al Hilal - the opponent who held Real Madrid to a draw in the opening match.
Inzaghi did not have enough time to build a system of three central defenders. However, his philosophy was soon adopted by the Al Hilal players.
This was demonstrated through the proactive play they created against Real Madrid, thanks to a dynamic midfield with Ruben Neves and Milinkovic-Savic, and the command of Koulibaly in defense.
Man City is looking new, the only team to win all group stage of the 2025 Club World Cup. However, Al Hilal will not let Pep Guardiola and his team have an easy game.
Force:
Man City: Kovacic, Echeverri injured; Rico Lewis suspended.
Al Hilal: Salem Al Dawsari, Mitrovic injured.
Expected lineup:
Man City (4-2-3-1) : Ederson; Nunes, Ruben Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Nico Gonzalez, Gundogan; Savinho, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
Al Hilal (4-3-1-2) : Bono; Cancelo, Tambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi; N. Al Dawsari, Neves, Kanno; Milinkovi c -Savi c ; Malcolm, Leonardo .
Match odds: Man City handicap 1 3/4
Goal ratio: 3 1/2
Prediction: Man City win 2-1 .
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nhan-dinh-bong-da-man-city-vs-al-hilal-vong-1-8-fifa-club-world-cup-2416832.html
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