The upcoming games at the Club World Cup hold significant importance for Manchester City following their underwhelming performances in the current season's Premier League and Champions League.
Pep Guardiola's squad faced an unexpected loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, adding to their determination to defend the CWC title they secured in 2023.
While winning the extended 32-team competition will pose challenges, City are heavily favored to defeat Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the Group G match scheduled for Wednesday.
Team updates
Manchester City will be without midfielder Mateo Kovacic due to injury, but John Stones, who has been sidelined since February with a thigh injury, is included in the lineup.
New recruits Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Ait-Nouri are eager to make their official debuts for the Citizens.
Wydad recently acquired former Watford and Hull winger Nordin Amrabat in preparation for this event.
Despite being on loan from Group G competitors Al Ain, midfielder El Mehdi El Moubarik is also part of the squad.
Key stats
Manchester City kept six clean sheets in their last nine Premier League matches
The team secured victories in six of their final seven league games during the 2024-25 season
New signing Rayan Cherki contributed with 19 assists in 33 appearances for Lyon in Ligue 1 and the Europa League
In City's recent six matches across various competitions, both teams only scored in one game
In Wydad's last six league fixtures, three ended in a 1-1 draw
Wydad suffered just one defeat in their last 22 matches in the Moroccan top division
Forecast
Manchester City's defense exhibited strength in the latter part of the Premier League season, aiding the team in securing a third-place finish following a challenging campaign.
Conceding only four goals, one of which was a penalty, in nine league games after April, City's opponents Wydad Casablanca might find it difficult to score in the upcoming match in Philadelphia.
A 3-0 victory in favor of City appears to be a feasible outcome, considering their previous 3-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds and 4-0 triumph against Fluminense in the 2023 tournament.
With the departure of club icon Kevin De Bruyne to Napoli and the arrival of 21-year-old French talent Rayan Cherki from Lyon, City's offensive unit has undergone changes.
While City made four signings in January, including forward Omar Marmoush, and have added four more players this summer, they may require time to adjust at the Club World Cup.
The initial group-stage matches against Wydad, Al Ain, and Juventus, who finished fourth in Serie A, offer City a favorable start, paving the way for a comfortable opening victory.
Wydad holds a prominent position in Moroccan football but gained their CWC qualification from their CAF Champions League victory in 2021-2022.
Despite winning the Botola, Morocco's top league, that season, Wydad's subsequent performances have been less impressive, finishing second in 2022-23 and sixth in 2023-24.
Struggling in the current title race and scoring only 45 goals in 30 matches, Wydad lacks the firepower to breach City's defense.