Match for the first round of the Club World Cup, at Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia.
What We Know
- These two have not faced each other in the past.
- They have both seen five of their last six games end with under 2.5 goals.
- Manchester City took the lead first in six of their last eight games.
Betting Tip Manchester City - Wydad Casablanca
There is an obvious talent discrepancy between the two teams. Manchester City are counted among the favourites to win this competition. They will be entering this game with all their new shiny transfer additions, and they are highly motivated. Wydad, on the other hand, are the weakest team in the group, and the score might get ugly. Our pick is over 3.5 goals scored.
- Betting tip: Over 3.5 Goals
- Odds: 2.12 (at the time of writing)
- Stake: 4
Manchester City
The 2024/2025 season was especially challenging for Pep Guardiola’s side. It was their first season without a trophy in eight years. To be precise, they did win the Community Shield at the beginning of the season, but that is not one of the major trophies.
They finished third in the league, way behind champions Liverpool, and they paid the price for their very poor performances at the start of the season. City were knocked out of the Champions League rather early by Real Madrid and from the Carabao Cup by Tottenham. They came closest in the FA Cup, but lost in the final to Crystal Palace.
Both the club’s management and Pep Guardiola himself (after extending his contract for two more seasons) are aware that a different approach is needed in order for the team to return to contention. Their commitment is evident by the intense transfer activity in recent weeks. They have added Tijani Reijnders from AC Milan, Rayan Cherki from Lyon, and Rayan Ait Nouri from Wolves. These players will help them navigate the post-Kevin de Bruyne era, after his departure for Napoli.
Wydad Casablanca
Wydad are one of the greatest teams of the African continent, with a raucous fan base that follows them everywhere. They will be participating in the Club World Cup after winning the 2022 CAF Champions League, and they are one of the four teams representing the continent.
They didn’t perform up to that level in Morocco’s domestic league this season, finishing in third place behind Berkane and Rabat. The final difference of 16 points from the top is certainly not flattering. They scored 45 goals in 30 games, the worst among the top four teams, while conceding 27 goals, nearly double that of the goals conceded by champions Berkane.
In the lead up to the Club World Cup, Wydad competed in two rather competitive club friendlies against Sevilla and Porto in late May, losing 0-1 in both. A few days later, they competed twice in Morocco’s Excellence Cup. They overcame the obstacle of Stade Marocain in the round of 16 (1-2) but lost 2-0 in the quarter final to Union Touarga.
