Manchester City won the FIFA Club World Cup 2023 thanks to a comprehensive 4-0 win over Fluminese at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Friday.
Pep Guardiola’s side became the fourth English club to win the flagship tournament as Argentine striker Julian Alvaraz scored twice and made an assist in the 20th edition. Brazil club Fluminese made the competition after winning the Copa Libertadores of South America but this final, against the best team in the world was a bit of a mismatch.
The FIFA World Club Cup 2023 betting odds stronglybacked a Sky Blue win and it only took 40 seconds for them to get their noses in front, when Alvarez was quickest to react and bundled the ball into the net after Nathan Ake’s long range strike had cannoned back off the post. City had help from their opponents to double the lead when Fluminese defender Nino turned a wicked Phil Foden cross into his own goal and then Foden made it three, midway through the second half when he fired home from an Alvarez cross.
While it was another night of celebration for the blue half of Manchester, City fans will have been concerned to see midfield anchor Rodri replaced on 74 minutes, after he was on the end of a crunching challenge from Alexsander, and he didn’t seem to be moving too easily as he made his way off the pitch. The 2023 treble winners rely heavily on the Spain star and have struggled at times when he has been injured or suspended this season. The Sky Blues’ next game is a Premier League clash away to Everton on 27th December and they will need a strong side out against Sean Dyche’s high flying Toffees. Alvarez will certainly be in Guardiola’s line up and he rounded off his man-of-the-match performance with a beautiful strike into the far corner on 88 minutes, though the City boss will also be waiting for news on his sidelined strike partner Erling Braut Haaland.
Egyptian side Al Ahly won third place thanks to a 4-2 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan.
Benzema stars for Saudis
The Saudi Pro League was represented by Al-Ittihad and the 2023 Saudi champions opened up with a 3-0 win over New Zealanders Auckland City before losing in the second round to Al Ahly. And a former Real Madrid star made his own FIFA Club World Cup 2023 highlights, scoring in both games. Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema had a good tournament, while former Chelsea and France team-mate, N’Golo Kante, also bagged in the win over Auckland as they raced into a 3-0 win by half time, Romarinho also on target.
The Saudi’s tournament was cut short when they were dumped out by Al Ahly in a 3-1 defeat but Benzema made his point with a 92nd minute consolation and the 2022 Ballon D’Or winner could be a key player in the remain of the Saudi Pro League campaign. Al Ittihad have splashed the cash and are down in sixth place at the moment, but they will have to look after their 36 year old star to keep him fit for the run-in.
City’s High Five
The Sky Blues have struggled to get wins in the Premier League in recent weeks though the odds still back them collecting a fourth consecutive title in May 2024, and this triumph may be just the boost they need to launch the second half of their campaign.
They follow some big English names to win this competition, with Premier League heavyweights Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all previous winners. But City are clearly the top dogs in the UK and Europe right now, this triumph being their fifth trophy in the calendar year following the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup into the clubs full trophy cabinet.
While this was the Sky Blues’ first appearance at the FIFA World Club Cup, Guardiola has previously won it with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and just loves the sight of any silver as the strength of his side clearly showed. City lined up with front liners Foden, Rodri, Alvarez, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Jack Grealish: “It was an incredible year,” said the smiling boss, “Today we closed the chapter. We won everything we could. Now time to try again.”
Ominous words for their rivals in both England and Europe. City are a little off the pace in the Premier League at the moment but they are still favourites, as they are for the FA Cup and the Champions League. The Double Treble is on and, now the Sky Blues have collected a cup they may be difficult to stop.
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