Manchester City didn’t just show up — they put on a masterclass.

In their FIFA Club World Cup Group G clash against Al Ain, Pep Guardiola’s men came out blazing in Atlanta and delivered a ruthless 6–0 win that sent a clear message to the rest of the tournament.

Quickfire Start Sets the Tone

City wasted no time stamping their authority on the match.

Just eight minutes in, Ilkay Gündogan found the back of the net, setting the tone for what was to come.

The action took place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and City were in complete control, holding a whopping 74% of the possession.

Goals Galore Before Halftime

Claudio Echeverri doubled City’s lead in the 27th minute with a sweetly taken free-kick from just outside the box.

Then, just before the break, Erling Haaland slotted in a penalty — his third goal of the tournament — after Manuel Akanji was fouled by Rami Rabia.

By halftime, it was already clear who was boss.

Second-Half Surge Finishes the Job

After the break, City didn’t take their foot off the gas.

Bernardo Silva delivered a perfectly weighted pass that Gündogan coolly finished for his second goal in the 73rd minute.

Then came Oscar Bobb in the 84th, making it 5–0 with a slick finish after Rodri split the defense with a clever pass.

Rayan Cherki capped it off with his debut goal for City, sealing a 6–0 rout.

Pep’s Rotation Gamble Pays Off

Guardiola made wholesale changes from the previous game against Wydad Casablanca — eleven, to be exact.

But even with a completely revamped lineup, the team looked sharp and in sync.

Debuts for Rayan Cherki and Claudio Echeverri added fresh energy, and Rodri got a planned 30 minutes under his belt as he continues his ACL recovery.

Despite the win, Pep noted they “missed by one goal” in their push to top the group, a small detail that might matter big-time soon.

Eyes on the Prize as Juventus Awaits

City’s emphatic win puts them on equal footing with Juventus — both teams now have six points and a +8 goal difference.

But Juventus has a slight edge, having scored more goals in total (nine to City’s eight) after beating Wydad Casablanca 4–1 earlier in the day.

That means it all comes down to the upcoming showdown on June 26 in Orlando, where City and Juventus will battle it out for top spot in Group G.

Can City Outshine Juventus in the Decider?

After such a commanding display, the big question now is whether Manchester City can keep the momentum going and edge out Juventus in what’s shaping up to be one of the tournament’s key fixtures.

Want to weigh in? Drop a comment below or hit us up on WhatsApp.

And don’t forget to follow The South African for more updates as the action unfolds.