The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup enters its second day of group stage action today, with two of Europe’s footballing powerhouses, Manchester City and Real Madrid, set to make their much-anticipated tournament debuts.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City take to the field first in Group G, facing Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca at 18:00 CET. Later in the evening, Real Madrid, under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Xabi Alonso, will clash with Saudi giants Al Hilal, now led by former Inter boss Simone Inzaghi.
Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca in group G opener
After a turbulent Premier League campaign that saw them fall out of the title race early and finish third, Manchester City are eager to reset and assert themselves on the global stage. Guardiola’s squad has undergone a significant overhaul during the Club World Cup’s special transfer window, marking the beginning of a new era in the post-Kevin De Bruyne era.
Three high-profile signings, Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, Rayan Cherki from Lyon, and Rayan Ait Nouri from Wolves, could all feature from the start as Guardiola aims to unleash a new look team. With Erling Haaland back fit and leading the line, City are expected to deploy an aggressive approach from the outset.
The projected lineup includes Ederson in goal, a defensive line of Ait Nouri, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Matheus Nunes, while Rodri could be partnered in midfield by Reijnders. Further forward, City’s attacking power will be spearheaded by Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush. Cherki and Savinho are among the names likely to start from the bench.
City’s opponents, Wydad Casablanca, present a disciplined and cohesive unit. Renowned for their compact defensive shape and dangerous counterattacks, the Moroccan side will rely on winger Ismail El Rayhi, who notched 11 goals this season, and striker Mailula, whose creativity and productivity have yielded five goals and seven assists. While Wydad remain underdogs, their tactical discipline and physical strength could offer a stiff test if City underestimate them.
Real Madrid face Al Hilal in a group H clash of philosophies
At 21:00 CET, all eyes shift to Group H as Real Madrid begin their campaign against Al Hilal, who are under the leadership of Simone Inzaghi. The former Inter manager steps into the Saudi dugout just weeks after he departed from Italy, making headlines for his rapid transition and reported attempts to bring in several high-profile European names, including Barella, Bruno Fernandes and Darwin Nunez, none of which materialised.
Instead, Inzaghi fields a familiar version of Al Hilal, adopting a 3-5-2 system with Yassine Bounou in goal and a back three of Kalidou Koulibaly, Al Bulayhi and Lajami. Joao Cancelo and Salem Al Dawsari provide width, with Sergej Milinkovic Savic and Mohamed Kanno flanking midfield anchor Ruben Neves. Up front, Brazilian youngster Marcos Leonardo partners Serbian target man Aleksandar Mitrovic.
For Real Madrid, the Club World Cup marks the beginning of Xabi Alonso’s managerial era. Departing from the three-man defence used at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso is expected to revert to a more traditional 4-3-3. Trent Alexander-Arnold could make his debut at right back, joining Ferland Mendy, Jesus Vallejo and Dean Huijsen in defence. Aurelien Tchouameni will likely anchor midfield with Dani Ceballos and Jude Bellingham ahead of him. The formidable front line will consist of Rodrygo, who has been linked with a move away, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Although Real Madrid enter as heavy favourites, especially in a group featuring RB Salzburg and Pachuca, Al Hilal will hope to frustrate the Spaniards and claim an early point. For Inzaghi, the match is a baptism of fire, and while advancing to the knockout stages remains a realistic goal, avoiding a heavy defeat against Los Blancos will be the initial focus.
With both Manchester City and Real Madrid expected to challenge deep into the tournament, tonight’s fixtures could offer an early glimpse into the form and intent of two of Europe’s biggest clubs as they chase global silverware.
