Manchester City vs Wyad Casablanca: Club World Cup Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

Group G play gets off on Wednesday in Philadelphia with a match between Moroccan side Wydad AC and Manchester City, who are aiming for back-to-back Club World Cup victories.

The Premier League giants will be expecting nothing less than a top-two finish. Anything less would be a massive letdown for Pep Guardiola's squad, especially when they are drawn with Serie A champions Juventus and UAE team Al-Ain.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Manchester City is preparing to address off-field issues and financial allegations, with the club's recruitment staff focusing on strengthening its squad. Three new players have been added to the team: Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Rayan Ait-Nouri, with Cherki and Reijnders expected to replace Kevin De Bruyne.

The 2023 Club World Cup was temporarily halted in 2024 due to FIFA's introduction of the Intercontinental Cup, and City traveled to the United States as the defending champions. Group G opponents Wydad AC, who have a record 22 domestic trophies, have slightly more experience than Manchester City. In the 2017-18 Club World Cup, Wydad made their debut but finished sixth after losing the fifth-place play-off against Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan.

Wydad's 2021–22 CAF Champions League victory secured their ticket to the enlarged competition, but coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem has had to address several issues since then. After a disappointing 2023–24 CAF Champions League campaign, Wydad slid to a third-place finish in the 2024–25 Botola Pro season. The Casablanca-based squad lost in two friendlies against European teams Sevilla and Porto and made their Club World Cup debut.

Despite these challenges, Manchester City's firepower is a formidable opponent, and they may only aim to minimize the damage before the start of the new domestic competition.

Manchester City vs Wyad Casablanca Team News 

City have brought every new player to Philadelphia, including backup goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. In their Group G opening, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, and Reijnders are expected to make their debuts.

Vulnerable center-back John Stones has also gone on the journey, even though he didn't finish the season due to a thigh injury, while Mateo Kovačić is still in Manchester to complete his recovery from his heel injury.

Given that Juventus is only eight days away, Guardiola, who is notorious for his wild and lengthy substitutions, may start a different lineup against Wydad AC. However, his precise strategy is often hard to anticipate.

Veteran winger Nordin Amrabat, who spent time at Hull City before joining Wydad last month, is the team's spearhead. Wydad has 29 players on its roster.

The 38-year-old's experience is invaluable, and he might establish an attacking partnership with Mohamed Rayhi, who was Wydad's top scorer last season with 11 league goals. Rayhi was formerly with PSV Eindhoven.

Our Predictions

Under 3.5 goals @ 2.00 on Sky247.ng

There will be tougher tests to come, but even with a reshuffled starting lineup, Manchester City should have no problem getting off to a quick start in Group G against the underdogs from Morocco.

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