Haaland Leads the Line as Manchester City Stunned by Al-Hilal in Club World Cup Thriller

Guardiola Shakes Up City Lineup for Club World Cup Showdown

All eyes were on Pep Guardiola’s team sheet as Manchester City stepped out for their much-anticipated FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 clash against Al-Hilal. Guardiola rang in three important changes, and the biggest headline was Erling Haaland taking back his spot up front. Haaland, who missed the previous outing, replaced Omar Marmoush, and his presence alone turned up expectations among the City faithful.

City’s backline offered a familiar feel, with Josko Gvardiol and Rúben Dias anchoring defense duties. Rayan Aït-Nouri, fresh from the physio table after his injury scare, slotted into a full-back role. Midfield saw Ilkay Gündoğan and Rodri partnered together, forming a double-pivot designed to boss the middle and build attacks quickly. Guardiola clearly wanted energy and creativity going forward, so Savinho, Phil Foden, and Jérémy Doku were tasked with supporting Haaland in an offensive 4-2-3-1 formation.

Al-Hilal's Grit and Extra-Time Drama Crush City Hopes

Al-Hilal didn’t have it easy either. The Saudi heavyweight was forced into a major change, with star captain Salem Al-Dawsari sidelined by a hamstring injury picked up in their group-stage finale. Instead, their hopes rested on the safe hands of Yassine Bounou in goal, with a defense marshaled by Kalidou Koulibaly and João Cancelo—two experienced stoppers familiar with the pressure of big nights.

First-half action saw Manchester City control both the tempo and the ball, pinning Al-Hilal deep and creating chances at will. Foden stung Bounou’s palms early while Doku’s dribbling forced defenders into panic mode more than once. Haaland, ever the magnet for attention in the box, saw a header shiver the crossbar, but the ball simply wouldn’t drop for the Blues.

Despite relentless pressure and near-total possession, City ran into a wall of resistance. Al-Hilal’s defenders blocked, cleared, and hustled, never looking overawed. The match was tense, with every missed City chance fueling the underdogs’ belief. Extra time arrived, and it was the Saudi side who pounced. A quick counter, a lapse in concentration, and the underdogs had the ball in the net—sending their supporters into a frenzy and Manchester City toward an early tournament exit.

After the final whistle, Guardiola faced the cameras with his trademark calm, lauding his players’ drive but refusing to sugar-coat the reality. "Knockout matches are brutal—you can dominate and still lose," he admitted. City's run in the Club World Cup stops earlier than many thought possible, but the larger surprise is just how hard Al-Hilal made them work for every inch. For a City team stacked with stars and ambitions, this is one chapter they’ll be disappointed to close so soon.