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Rodri and Jeremy Doku star in Manchester City's 5-2 demolition of Juventus
Manchester City sealed top spot in Group G with a 5-2 thrashing of Italian giants Juventus at the FIFA Club World Cup.
This was a game which carried huge implications for the knockout stages with a potentially easier route to the final up for grabs.
City opened the scoring in the ninth minute through Jeremy Doku, but nerves could have easily settled in after Teun Koopmeiners capitalised on an Ederson mistake two minutes later to make it 1-1.
After Pierre Kalulu turned in a Matheus Nunes cross before halftime, City seized control.
Goals from Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Savinho’s Goal of the Tournament contender followed, and with City’s grip tightened on the game, it was over for Juventus.
Dusan Vlahovic scored Juve’s second, but this was a slight glimmer in a match where City took advantage of an opponent which lost their discipline both defensively and in the press.
DAZN News takes a look at the key talking points from a City victory which may have made them the favourites to be lifting the trophy at MetLife Stadium next month.
Juventus vs Manchester City highlights
Two new City partnerships blossom
In this new era of City players, it already looks like two partnerships are beginning to form.
In midfield, Tijjani Reijnders and Rodri had a great understanding of each other. They know when to drop back to defensive duties whilst the other helped the attacking play and so forth. If City manage to stay in the tournament, then using competitive games against high level opposition will be the perfect way to develop chemistry.
There was also a blossoming partnership on the left flank with winger Jeremy Doku and Rayan Ait-Nouri. Their electric personalities on the ball had Juve defender Pierre Kalulu on the back foot.
The pair connected for Doku’s opener in the ninth minute, and if this display was anything to go by, Guardiola has an exciting offensive weapon at their disposal.
Rodri back in the starting line-up
For the first time since September 2024, Rodri started a game of football for Manchester City.
While it would have been a sight to behold for City fans, there is always a fear that he could pick up another injury.
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The Spaniard got through a comfortable 66 minutes and already City look like different proposition with him in the team, no surprises there then.
Manager Guardiola will manage Rodri’s gametime meticulously ahead of the start of the Premier League season, but already the Ballon d’Or is going from strength to strength after missing the majority of the 2024/25 season.
Doku continues to thrive
Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images
City winger Jeremy Doku is continuing to grow in confidence and is making a statement to Pep Guardiola.
Kicking off with his team’s opening goal in the ninth minute, Doku’s pace was causing plenty of problems down the left flank.
Juventus defenders were struggling to keep him under wraps with the Belgian frequently bursting into the box and creating chances, partly helped by the link-up with Rayan Ait-Nouri.
After struggling in a faltering City team last season, Doku has a new lease of life and now the challenge will be to carry this form into the upcoming Premier League season and beyond.
With two goals already to his name in the FIFA Club World Cup, there is no reason why he should not be taking football by storm during the 2025/26 campaign.
Juventus gameplan does work, but flaws remain
City were the favourites to triumph in this game, but Juventus showed that they have the tactics to trouble some of the best in European football.
With a realisation that they will not be seeing much of the ball, Igor Tudor’s side instead opted to maintain a solid defensive shape and press aggressively to force mistakes. This not only forced City to use their wingers as a main attacking outlet, but also the opportunity to spring on to any mistakes.
A prime example was Koopmeiners equaliser to make it 1-1 in the first half after the German jumped on a stray pass from City goalkeeper Ederson.
However, in the second half, Juventus lacked any form of intensity which played into City’s hands who put a further three goals past Italy’s most successful club.
Juventus lacked attacking edge
Compared to the wins over Al Ain and Wydad AC, Juventus lacked the goalscoring threat.
This was immediately evident in Igor Tudor’s team selection with Kenan Yildiz and Andrea Cambiaso on the bench.
The thinking behind this decision was likely to combat a lack of possesion by counter attacking, but if there is little to scare City in return, then it will only go one way and that’s a loss.
When Yildiz finally came on in the second half, he made an instant impact and set up Dusan Vlahovic’s goal to make it 5-2.
With Juventus likely to face Real Madrid in the Round of 16, I don’t expect Tudor to make the same mistake if the ‘Old Lady’ is to have the best chance of staying in the tournament.
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