In a challenging evening in Orlando, marked by heat and rain, Juventus faced their first true high-level obstacle in the Club World Cup. After securing victories against Al Ain and Wydad Casablanca, they encountered a formidable opponent. Despite a recent season that wasn`t their best – and having been defeated by the Bianconeri in the Champions League – Manchester City remains a genuinely intimidating force. The match concluded with a decisive 5-2 victory for the English side, leaving Juventus in second place in their group.
While Haaland was dominant, an own goal by Kalulu compounded Juve`s difficulties. The best player for Juventus was undoubtedly the goalkeeper, Di Gregorio, who received a rating of 6 despite retrieving the ball from his net five times, which speaks volumes about the pressure he faced. For City, the entire team performed well, with the Norwegian striker reaching the impressive milestone of 300 career goals at just 24 years old.
The immediate reaction from the Juventus camp was one of stark realism: “City too strong for us.” This sentiment, perhaps a moment of clear realization, was echoed by coach Igor Tudor. The Croatian technician stated: “It might sound odd to say, but I don`t have much to say to myself or my players. They are simply too strong for us. After all, they have been the best team in the world over the last ten years, even if maybe Real [Madrid] has won more titles.”
Regarding City`s less brilliant performance last season, Pep Guardiola commented post-match, expressing his conviction that much of it was “due to the two hundred thousand injuries” they suffered.
