The knockout stages of the Club World Cup hold their promises. This Monday evening, we experienced a real surprise since Inter Milan, which was still a defending finalist of the Champions League, bowed against the Brazilian club Fluminense (2-0). A real tour de force for the Rio de Janeiro club which therefore watched the match between Manchester City and Al-Hilal with an attentive eye. Wanting to join the Brazilian training in the next round, the Pep Guardiola team was betting on a 4-2-3-1 with a double pivot Ilkay Gündogan-Tijjani Reijnders. In front, Erling Haaland was supported by Savinho, Bernardo Silva and Jérémy Doku. For his part, Al-Hilal fell on a 4-4-2 diamond with snoring names like Yassine Bounou, Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Renan Lodi, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Malcom.
And the match started strongly under the leadership of Manchester City. As in previous matches, the formation of Pep Guardiola imposed a strong pressing at the outset and took over the opposing camp. The first alert came from a center of Jérémy Doku taken over by the head of Ruben Dias, but Yassine Bounou captured the ball (6th). An alert, followed by a shot without warning. Launched on the left of the Saudi surface, Rayan Aït-Nouri focused in the area. Renan Lodi lacked his release which bounced on Ilkay Gündogan and Bernardo Silva followed well to score (1-0, 9th). Well installed at the top of the game, Manchester City continued to have the control and monopolized the ball. The gang of Pep Guardiola could even have taken off without a large Yassine Bounou.
Al-Hilal had Manchester City flip
Inspired, the Moroccan porter pushed a dangerous strike from Savinho who could not transform the caviar of Erling Haaland (24th). Just behind, the former Seville FC diverted the shot of İlkay Gündoğan (29th), the head of Joško Gvardiol (30th) or the volley of Jérémy Doku (38th). Aside from a head by Marcos Leonardo who was clear above the frame, al-Hilal struggled to exist. After the break, Al-Hilal didn't need much to come back. Exactly 44 seconds for Malcom and Joao Cancelo sowing the right side and Marcos Leonardo victoriously resumes (1-1, 46th). Surprised, Manchester City was even going to crack a second time.
Just behind on a counter launched by Joao Cancelo, Malcom spun it right and adjusted Ederson Moraes on the right (2-1, 52nd). A second nightmare deed for Manchester City which nevertheless returned to the match following a scraper where Erling Haaland was pulling out of the game to reset the meters (2-2, 55th). This match became crazy and Malcom obtained a penalty ultimately refused for an offside position (56th). If Manchester City raised the head like that of Jérémy Doku who lacked the frame (75th), al-Hilal remained dangerous in verticality. Manchester City accelerated to avoid extra time.
Erling Haaland passed close to scoring twice (84th and 87th) while Ruben Dias was also illustrated (85th). But finally, the two teams offered us an additional 30 minutes. And the show remained present since quickly al-Hilal turned first on a head of Kalidou Koulibaly (3-2, 94th) but Phil Foden was going to equalize extensions before half time (3-3, 104th). But Al-Hilal had resources and at the very end of the match, Marcos Leonardo offered himself a double by dripping in front of the goal of Ederson Moraes (4-3, 114th). With this 4-3 victory at the end of the suspense, Al-Hilal joined Fluminense in the quarter-finals.
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