Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric (2ndR) argues with Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti (C) next to Pachuca's Argentine defender Gustavo Cabral during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between Spain's Real Madrid and Mexico's Pachuca at the Bank of America stadium in Charlotte on Monday (BST). — AFP PHILADELPHIA, June 23, (AFP): Manchester City hit Al Ain for six on Sunday to secure a place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup after Real Madrid shrugged off an early red card to beat Mexican side Pachuca 3-1.
Juventus proved too strong for Wydad Casablanca while Red Bull Salzburg and Al Hilal drew 0-0 as the second round of group games at the tournament came to a conclusion.
The match between City and Al Ain in Atlanta was dubbed the "Abu derby", with the English club's owner and United Arab Emirates vice-president Sheikh Mansour facing off against his elder sibling, Sheikh Mohamed, president of the Emirati team and also the country.
Ilkay Gundogan put City ahead early on before 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri netted his first goal for the club with a free-kick and Erland Haaland slotted in the third with a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half, Gundogan struck again before two substitutes joined in, with Oscar Bobb rolling in the fifth and Rayan Cherki grabbing his first City goal for 6-0.
The result, in a game watched by a crowd of over 40,000, means both City and Juventus are through to the knockout phase after each winning their first two matches in Group G.
They will now face each other in Orlando on Thursday to decide who tops the section.
"Now we have to see whether we'll be first or second in the group," said City coach Pep Guardiola, who changed his entire starting line-up following the 2-0 opening win against Wydad.
"We played a little bit better than the first game, especially in the second half." Juventus triumphed 4-1 against Moroccan giants Wydad in Philadelphia, as Kenan Yildiz played a starring role.
YILDIZ STARS FOR JUVENTUS
The Turkish international forward scored twice after forcing the early own goal which put Juve ahead in front of almost 32,000 at Lincoln Financial Field.
His shot found the net with the aid of a slight but crucial deflection off Abdelmounaim Boutouil, and Yildiz then smashed in the second on 16 minutes with a brilliant half-volley.
South African winger Thembinkosi Lorch pulled one back for Wydad, but the impressive Yildiz made it 3-1 midway through the second half and Dusan Vlahovic converted a penalty in injury time to seal the win for Igor Tudor's side.
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