Manchester City vs Al Hilal Preview

• City to win
• Over 2.5 goals

Manchester City and Al Hilal will lock horns in Orlando with a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on the line. After contrasting journeys through the group stage, this winner-takes-all clash promises to be a compelling contest between a team renowned for attacking brilliance and another that prides itself on defensive solidity.

Match News and Current Form

Manchester City breezed through Group G, scoring more goals than any other side (13) while winning all three of their matches. Pep Guardiola’s men were relentless from the off in every fixture, netting at least twice before half-time in each game and going on to maintain control throughout. It’s been a dominant campaign thus far for the reigning champions, who look intent on defending their Club World Cup crown with authority.

Despite finishing third in the Premier League and going trophyless domestically in 2024/25, City’s form at the CWC has been nothing short of spectacular. Their group stage saw comprehensive victories over Wydad, Al Ain, and Juventus, with Guardiola opting for squad rotation while still maintaining high performance levels. The depth and quality in the City camp has allowed them to field competitive elevens throughout, and they’ll head into the round of 16 confident of extending their winning streak.

Al Hilal’s road to the knockouts has been considerably more arduous. The Saudi Arabian side played out hard-fought draws against European powerhouses Real Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg, before sealing their progression with a 2-0 win over Pachuca. Their campaign has been underpinned by defensive discipline, conceding just once in the group stage—joint-fewest in the tournament. However, injuries to key personnel could now derail their hopes of going any further.

In particular, the loss of club captain and top scorer Salem Al Dawsari to injury in the win over Pachuca represents a significant blow. Al Dawsari has scored 27 goals across the season and was integral to their qualification. His absence, alongside that of Aleksandar Mitrović, means coach Jorge Jesus must now find a way to keep pace with the highest-scoring team in the competition.

Head-to-Head History

This will be the first ever competitive meeting between Manchester City and Al Hilal, and just the second time a Saudi Arabian club has faced English opposition in the Club World Cup. The only previous instance saw Al Hilal lose narrowly (1-0) to Chelsea in the semi-final of the 2021 edition.

It’s worth noting, however, that Al Hilal have already held their own against European opposition at this year’s tournament, drawing with both Real Madrid and Salzburg. That resilience will be tested to the limit against the fluid and relentless attacking machine that is Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Key Players to Watch

For Manchester City, Erling Haaland continues to be the focal point in attack. With two goals and an assist already in the competition, the Norwegian has now scored in five of his last six outings for club and country. Haaland’s power, positioning, and ruthlessness in front of goal make him one of the most dangerous forwards in world football—and a constant threat to an Al Hilal defence that has been otherwise excellent so far.

In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne’s return to fitness and rhythm has bolstered City’s creative options, while Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have both impressed since their big-money arrivals ahead of the tournament. With Guardiola frequently rotating, City’s depth allows them to approach each fixture with fresh legs and consistent quality.

Al Hilal’s hopes of competing will rest heavily on players like Rúben Neves, who has been the heartbeat of the midfield. However, the former Wolves man has found facing City particularly challenging—without a goal in ten appearances against them. Defensive stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly will also have a major role to play, especially in the absence of Al Dawsari and Mitrović.

Missing Players

Manchester City will be without young midfielder Claudio Echeverri, who has yet to feature in the tournament, while Rico Lewis is suspended following his red card in the group stage. Guardiola has a wealth of options to rotate in, and Rodri is expected to start after recently returning from injury.

Al Hilal, meanwhile, are dealing with more concerning absences. Both Salem Al Dawsari and Aleksandar Mitrović will miss this tie through injury, which significantly reduces the Saudi side’s attacking threat. Their depth will be put to the test against one of the most complete squads in world football.

Hot Stats and Streaks

• Manchester City have scored within the first ten minutes in all three of their group stage games.
• City are yet to concede a goal in four CWC matches, winning them all by a combined scoreline of 15-0.
• Pep Guardiola has won all 11 of his Club World Cup matches as a manager, across three clubs.
• Al Hilal are unbeaten in their last four competitive games (W1, D3), but have not won back-to-back CWC games in their history.
• None of Al Hilal’s last 17 matches ended in a 1-0 scoreline.

Betting Analysis

Manchester City have steamrolled opponents in the tournament so far, and the loss of Al Hilal’s top two attacking threats suggests a gulf in class could open up in this round. City to win by a margin of two or more goals looks highly likely, while betting on them to score over 2.5 goals may also be worth exploring. Given City’s quick starts and Al Hilal’s defensive focus, a City win to nil is another solid betting angle.

Prediction

Al Hilal’s resilience deserves credit, but against a Manchester City side in devastating form, their journey in this year’s tournament looks likely to end here. Expect Guardiola’s men to dominate possession, create chances in waves, and eventually break through a shorthanded Hilal setup.

Predicted score: Manchester City 3-0 Al Hilal

For more info on this game, you may also visit:
https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/10005/289175/289186/400019202