Socrates

Juventus 2 - Manchester City 5: Initial reaction and random observations The step up quality from Juventus’ first two Club World Cup group stage games to Thursday’s Group G finale against Manchester City was a steep one. It was always a given, and the first real test of Igor Tudor and his squad’s credentials after two blowout wins over the two underdogs of the group. Then came a starting lineup that was less than full strength. Then City starting on the front foot and pinning Juventus back, with the lone bright spot being the massive error at the back that led to Teun Koopmeiners’ 11th-minute goal to tie things up. Even then, things weren’t great at all. And you thought it couldn’t get much worse when Pierre Kalulu tried to clear the ball but actually ended up kicking it into his own net. Oh, it got worse. Much, much worse. ............ Juventus were outclassed in every single way possible in this sport. City outshot Juventus by a wild 24-5 margin. City had more than five times as many shots on goal than Juventus, 11-2. Juve’s only two shots on goal were their actual goals — and, like I said, the first of those goals was absolutely gifted to Koopmeiners thanks to Ederson’s latest blunder in distribution at the back. ............ I don’t blame Tudor for wanting to rotate his squad a little bit. They’re playing their third game in eight days and have been playing in the heat and humidity that has covered large swaths of the United States over the last week. That heat in the middle of the afternoon in Florida is always going to be brutal this time of year — and that is even after a small storm surge rolled over Camping World Stadium midway through the first half. But, with all of that being said, why so many changes knowing that it’s Manchester City and its roster full of stars and plenty of new additions? I am confused — and I’m not the only one. ............ Even with this Juventus are still going to be playing in the Club World Cup knockout rounds, although now likely facing Real Madrid because of this result and they’re second-place finish in Group G. ............ RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS ............ I hope that, even with this very bad loss, we have the energy to create a prayer circle for Nicolo Savona’s ankle because that did not look good. Neither did his reaction or ability to put absolutely no weight on it after he was helped off the field. I repeat: If it wasn’t for Michele Di Gregorio, this game would have been even more out of hand than it already was. I can’t remember the last time I saw a keeper see five goals hit the back of the net yet still be considered arguably his team’s best player on the day. That also speaks to how bad the vast majority of his teammates played against City, but still. ............ Juventus passes completed in the first half: 116. Man City passes completed in the first half: 397. Juventus passes completed in total: 239. Man City passes completed in total: 771. ............ Manchester City’s highest paid player scored a goal just a few minutes after coming on to begin the second half. Juventus’ highest paid player scored a goal when the game was already over. That’s right — for the second straight game, Dusan Vlahovic got himself another goal in garbage time. At least the ball from Kenan Yildiz to Vlahovic was pretty, so there’s that. Juventus went over 70 minutes without a shot on goal. That’s ... not good. I think over that same time span City had about 50 shots on target. Or at leasr that’s what it felt like as I watched all of that nonsense play out. Let’s just go ahead and not talk about Vlahovic’s first scoring chance of the day, OK? Yeah, good, I don’t need to be reminded of that ever again. ............ Juventus also completed just 77% of their passes in the first half and couldn’t even get out of their half of the field for large stretches. That’s not great, either. Andrea Cambiaso was subbed on with over half an hour to go and I don’t think I heard his name called out at least once. Speaking subs, why did Tudor wait until the 57th minute to make his first moves? I don’t know and I need somebody to explain it to me as soon as possible. ............ In conclusion, Juventus’ inability to have any sort of answer allowed a Manchester City side that is in the early stages of this large-scale (and big-money) rebuild to run all over them. That’s not a good sign for one of those two clubs who played in Orlando on Thursday. Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/6/27/24456556/juventus-manchester-city-2025-fifa-club-world-cup-group-stage-final-score-result-initial-reaction

Tudor: ‘Manchester City on a different level to Juventus right now’ Igor Tudor admits Manchester City ‘are too much’ for Juventus right now after a 5-2 Club World Cup thrashing, but he is more concerned with the Nicolò Savona injury. The Bianconeri knew they had already qualified for the Round of 16 before going into the match in Orlando this evening, and that a draw would’ve been enough to top the group thanks to scoring more goals against Wydad and Al-Ain. ............ “Manchester City are too much for us,” Tudor said. “Congratulations to them, it’s an ugly result and we don’t like it. They have enormous quality, character, everything. We wanted to push forward, but we couldn’t get the ball back off them. Then we sat too deep and they scored. At this moment, they are at a different level to us.” ............ “You can do anything in football, even beat a team of another level, but in order to do that, you must be complete, fresh, playing well. This is what makes football the beautiful game,” replied Tudor. ............ “I wanted to rest a few players today and get others into shape by playing. This is a match I do not like, but if I have anything to complain about, it is to myself and not the players, even if the result is bad. It might seem strange, but that’s how I feel,” added Tudor. “The lads gave their all, now we must put it behind us, because the tournament keeps going. We’ll see who we get and push hard.” ............ “I am not worried, because there are so many different circumstances that must come together. Manchester City have been the best team in the world for the last 10 years. Real Madrid won a lot in that time, but in football terms, City are the best. It’s not strange to struggle against them.” There is a bigger concern for Tudor and that is the sight of Savona being carried off the field with a badly sprained ankle, meaning his Club World Cup could be over. “He didn’t look good. We’ll see tomorrow.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/tudor-manchester-city-different-level-juventus/

Koopmeiners: ‘Juventus could’ve done better, but Manchester City are strong’ Teun Koopmeiners admits ‘there are so many things we need to do better’ after Juventus were swept aside 5-2 by Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup. ............ Instead, the Bianconeri were flattened 5-2 in Orlando, including a comical Pierre Kalulu own goal and two efforts that were practically walked into the net by Erling Haaland and Phil Foden. ............ “It was a difficult match, against a very strong opponent,” Koopmeiners said. “It is tough to play against a team like this, we managed to score two goals when they made mistakes, but there are so many things we need to do better.” ............ “There are so many things we could’ve done better, in terms of technique and also the team work. When we get the ball back, we have to do better. It’s true the opponents were too strong today, but at the same time, we are Juventus.” ............ “I am happy with the goal, we were trailing and it was important to equalise. However, I am sad that we conceded so many goals. It was not a good evening, I too could’ve done better. It is important that we learn from this and improve in the next matches.” That will likely be against Real Madrid, as by finishing runners-up, Juventus will now face the winners of Group H in the Round of 16. ............ “We talked at half-time and it is disappointing we were not able to do better,” concluded Koopmeiners. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/koopmeiners-juventus-could-manchester-city/

Juventus Player Ratings vs Man City: Terrible Bianconeri Swept Aside Juventus (3-4-3) Michele Di Gregorio – 7/10 Juventus would’ve probably conceded more had it not been for the former Monza goalkeeper. Made several notable saves, but it was insufficient to avoid a catastrophe. Lloyd Kelly – 5/10 ............ Nicolo Savona – 6/10 His defensive colleagues often let him down, leaving the youngster exposed far too frequently. Despite the chaos around him, Savona held his ground against Haaland. Pierre Kalulu – 2/10 You won’t see a funnier own goal at the tournament than this. A complete absence of concentration saw the Frenchman turn home what should’ve been a routine clearance. Failed to recover afterward. Filip Kostic – 4/10 ............ Weston McKennie – 3/10 ............ Manuel Locatelli – 5/10 Seems like a short spell on the sidelines left its mark as the Juventus captain looked rusty and slow at times, especially when called to help out in defense. Alberto Costa – 3/10 After an underwhelming performance against Wydad, the Portuguese youngster had another forgettable night against Doku. It was a walk in the park for the Belgian forward. Teun Koopmeiners – 6/10 In the right place at the right time to make a crucial interception before displaying a striker-like composure to draw Juventus level. However, he lost track of Matheus Nunes for Man City’s third. Nico Gonzalez – 5/10 ............ Dusan Vlahovic – 6/10 Converted the only chance his teammates created for him tonight but spent most of the game as a marginal figure. Substitutes Andrea Cambiaso – 6/10 Khephren Thuram – 5/10 Kenan Yildiz – 7/10 Federico Gatti – 5/10 Vasilije Adzic – N/A . Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/juventus-player-ratings-vs-man-city-terrible-bianconeri-swept-aside/

A much-changed Juventus side well beaten by Manchester City Manchester City secured a dominant 5-2 victory over Juventus in their final Club World Cup Group G fixture this evening, confirming their place at the top of the group. ............ Juventus manager Igor Tudor made several changes to his starting line-up, a surprising decision given the calibre of the opposition. In contrast, Manchester City fielded a stronger XI and took the lead after just nine minutes through Jeremy Doku. Juve responded swiftly, with Teun Koopmeiners equalising almost immediately, signalling their intention to compete. However, the reshuffled side lacked the cohesion seen in their recent wins, and this disjointed performance contributed to Manchester City regaining the lead via a Pierre Kalulu own goal. ............ The second half began with a substitution for City, as Erling Haaland entered the game and promptly extended their lead. In response, Tudor introduced Kenan Yildiz, Andrea Cambiaso and Khephren Thuram in an effort to shift the momentum. However, Manchester City increased their advantage to 4-1 through Phil Foden and continued their dominance by adding a fifth goal not long after. In the final minutes, Yildiz assisted Dusan Vlahovic for a consolation goal, continuing the striker’s fine run of form, but it proved too little too late. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/a-much-changed-juventus-side-well-beaten-by-manchester-city/

Juventus 2-5 Manchester City: Manita ruins Club World Cup record Juventus are now likely to face Real Madrid in the Club World Cup Round of 16 after a thumping 5-2 defeat to Manchester City saw them finish runners-up in Group G. Both teams had already qualified for the knockouts after winning their opening two games against Wydad and Al-Ain, so it was a head-to-head for top spot. The Bianconeri could afford a draw, having scored one more goal, and made six changes including Dusan Vlahovic and the first Filip Kostic appearance over a year since his loan to Fenerbahce. ............ Moments later, Ait-Nouri caught Alberto Costa napping for a through ball down the left, as Jeremy Doku cut back inside Pierre Kalulu to sweep into the far bottom corner. ............ Less than a minute after that Ederson got it all wrong playing out from the back, so Teun Koopmeiners intercepted to score from a tight angle. The errors continued, as Kalulu was practically undisturbed when Matheus Nunes pulled back from the by-line, but still somehow side-footed it into his own net from eight yards. ............ Kenan Yildiz came off the bench and drilled just wide, then Juventus lost Nicolò Savona to a badly sprained ankle and Dusan Vlahovic failed to beat Ederson one-on-one with a dinked finish. Instead, Haaland’s first touch controlled a long Ederson clearance and his lay-off was meant to be for Phil Foden, eventually leading to the tap-in with help from Savinho. Di Gregorio used his foot to deny Haaland, but it came to the edge of the area to Savinho for an unexpected scorcher off the underside of the bar with his weaker right foot. Juventus made the scoreline slightly less humiliating when Kenan Yildiz sent Vlahovic running with a smart through ball. ............ Juventus 2-5 Manchester City Doku 9 (M), Koopmeiners 11 (J), Kalulu og 26 (M), Haaland 52 (M), Foden 69 (M), Savinho 76 (M), Vlahovic 85 (J) . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-2-5-manchester-city-club-world-cup/

Il ventenne Yildiz era stanco .......

Dopo stasera, Di Gregorio lo cercheranno le squadre della Premier.

Difesa incredibile

La domanda sorge spontanea: "Igor, ma un ventenne ha bisogno di riposare"?

DUSAN VLAHOVIC 5-2

5-1

Facciamo la fine dell'Al Hain

Vlahovic non va

La caviglia

Bravo Savona contro Haaland

Ci mancava solo Haaland

Io mi domando perché club ricchi come lo United e il Chelsea non lo vogliono. Sará per lo stipendio? O Sancho é caratterialmente un problema?

Club World Cup Preview: Juventus vs Man City – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction Juventus have enjoyed a flawless Club World Cup debut so far. After a thumping 5-0 win over UAE outfit Al-Ain on the opening day, they thrashed Wydad AC 4-1 to secure a knockout berth with a game to spare. Locking down a top spot is the next assignment. However, the task ahead is nothing short of Herculean. Like Juventus, Manchester City have been ruthless in the United States. Pep Guardiola’s charges started the tournament with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wydad before humbling Al-Ain 6-0 in round two. An inferior goal difference to Juventus means a draw would send the Citizens through as group runners-up. ............ Match Preview Juventus It’s been a superb maiden Club World Cup appearance for Juventus thus far. However, this is their sternest test yet. A seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions (W5, D2) bodes well, as the Turin heavyweights need to avoid defeat to progress as Group G winners. Tudor’s men have rediscovered their scoring instincts in the States. Furthermore, they’ve netted 14 goals across their last four outings, as many as they had in their previous 14 combined. Still, replicating the dominance shown in their first two victories could prove far more challenging this time. Delivering action from the get-go, Juventus’ last three matches have produced the opening goal within 15 minutes. Another fast start would likely go a long way toward settling their nerves and putting pressure on Man City. Given the stakes, seizing the initiative could make all the difference. Kenan Yildiz could be the difference-maker after a stellar performance against Wydad. Indeed, the Turkish teenager netted on either side of halftime and played a major role in the opening goal. Manchester City ............ Team News Juventus will be without long-term absentees Gleison Bremer, Arkadiusz Milik, Mattia Perin, and Juan Cabal. On the bright side, Manuel Locatelli has recovered from an ankle problem and will likely take his place at the heart of Tudor’s midfield, perhaps at the expense of Weston McKennie. As for Man City, Mateo Kovacic is out with an Achilles tendon injury. Rico Lewis picked up a red card on matchday one and remains out of the squad. Yet, star midfielder Rodri is back after spending the best part of the 2024/25 season on the sidelines. Juventus vs Manchester City Potential Starting Line-ups Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Kelly, Kalulu; Costa, Thuram, McKennie, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; Kolo Muani. Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Reijnders; Savinho, Foden, Marmoush; Haaland. Juventus vs Manchester City Prediction Even with top spot on the line, Juventus and Man City could throw a spectacle in Florida. Both teams have been in scintillating scoring form, making for good reading if you’re neutral. Both sides will probably get on the scoresheet in a match that may end level. Prediction: Draw . Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/club-world-cup-preview-juventus-vs-man-city-team-news-line-ups-prediction/

Juventus vs Manchester City: Preview and Prediction Manchester City have picked up two consecutive victories over Wydad Casablanca and Al-Ain ahead of the final FIFA Club World Cup group tie vs Juventus. The Citizens will be full of confidence heading into this game. It will be interesting to see if they can pick up their third win in a row. On the other hand, Juventus have beaten the two teams as well, scoring nine goals in the process. The Bianconeri are in tremendous form and they will be looking to grind out a positive result here. It remains to be seen whether they can upset the odds. ............ Team News & Tactics Juventus Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer are the only absentees for Igor Tuodr. Juvenus will shape up in a 3-4-1-2 formation vs Manchester City, with Michele Di Gregorio in goal. In the back three, Pierre Kalulu will start again alongside Nicolo Savona and Lloyd Kelly. Alberto Costa and Andrea Cambiaso will start on the flanks. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Weston McKennie and Khephren Thuram will add physicality, drive and defensive cover in the middle of the park. Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao will start as the attacking midfielders. They will look to drift into the wide areas as well and create opportunities for their teammates. Finally, Randal Kolo Muani will lead the line for Juventus vs Manchester City on Thursday. Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Gregorio; Kalulu, Savona, Kelly; Costa, McKennie, Thuram, Cambiaso; Yildiz, Conceicao; Kolo Muani Manchester City ............ Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunez, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Reijnders, Rodri; Silva, Cherki, Marmoush; Haaland Key Stats Manchester City have picked a win in their last four matches in all competitions. Juventus have picked up a win in their last four matches in all competitions. Manchester City have kept three clean sheets in their last four matches in all competitions. Juventus have scored 14 goals in their last four matches in all competitions. Manchester City have scored 13 goals in their last four matches in all competitions. Player to Watch Erling Haaland ............ Prediction Juventus 1-2 Manchester City Manchester City are a better team on paper, and they will be expected to grind out all three points. Both teams will look to grind out a positive result here, and this is likely to be a close contest. Juventus will not want to come away with a defeat, and they are likely to put up a fight. However, Manchester City are the better team, and they have more quality and depth right now. They should be able to grind out a narrow victory here. The two sides are likely to get on the score sheet, but the visitors will edge this one. . Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/06/25/juventus-vs-manchester-city-preview-and-prediction-2/

Preview: Juventus vs Manchester City - prediction, team news, lineups Juventus and Manchester City battle it out in their final Group G fixture at the FIFA Club World Cup at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Thursday. Both European giants have already qualified for the last 16 and are now seeking to finish top of the group, with Juve currently boasting a slight advantage courtesy of goals scored. Match preview After kick-starting their debut Club World Cup campaign with a five-star showing against Al-Ain, Juventus punched their ticket to the knockout rounds with a 4-1 victory over Wydad AC on matchday two in Philadelphia. Kenan Yildiz ha arguably been Juve’s standout performer in the United States and followed up a strike on matchday one with a superb brace against Wydad - the Turkish star was unfortunate not to claim a hat-trick as Abdelmounaim Boutouil was credited with an early own goal. Juve endured a challenging 2024-25 campaign on the domestic front as they struggled to convert draws into wins in Serie A - drawing a league-high 16 games en route to sneaking into the top four - but head coach Igor Tudor could hardly have asked for a better start to life at the newly-expanded Club World Cup. After scoring nine goals to Man City’s eight across the opening two group games, Juventus sit top of Group G by the finest of margins and Tudor’s men can afford to draw Thursday’s “great test” against the Citizens to secure first position. Juventus will fancy their chances of success on matchday three, as they boast a seven-game unbeaten run across all competitions (W5 D2), while they have won each of their last three meetings with Man City, including a 2-0 Champions League triumph in December 2024. ............ Team News Juventus quartet Mattia Perin (hand), Juan Cabal, Bremer (both knee) and Arkadiusz Milik (muscle) are all unavailable for selection at the Club World Cup as they continue to recover from injury. Captain Manuel Locatelli recovered from an ankle problem to feature as a second-half substitute in the win over over Wydad and he is now in contention to return to the first XI, although Tudor may decide to stick with Weston McKennie and Khephren Thuram in midfield. Tudor may in fact name the same starting lineup for the third consecutive match, with former Man City transfer target Andrea Cambiaso and Alberto Costa providing width as wing-back, as in-form Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao link up with Randal Kolo Muani in attack. ............ Juventus possible starting lineup: Di Gregorio; Savona, Kelly, Kalulu; Costa, Thuram, McKennie, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; Kolo Muani Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Reijnders; Savinho, Foden, Marmoush; Haaland We say: Juventus 2-3 Manchester City A tactical tussle between Tudor and Guardiola is in store on Thursday and both Juventus and Man City will back themselves to come away with maximum points. The Citizens are in need of the victory to finish top of Group G and we are backing the Premier League side to edge past their Serie A counterparts in an entertaining, end-to-end contest. . Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/club-world-cup/preview/juventus-vs-man-city-prediction-team-news-lineups_576144.html

“Strong mentality” Barzagli compares Tudor to Juventus legend Andrea Barzagli, one of Juventus’ most respected former players, has offered a strong endorsement of Igor Tudor by drawing comparisons between the current Bianconeri coach and Antonio Conte. With Juventus now firmly focused on rebuilding their dominance in Italian and European football, such words carry significant weight from someone who played a key role in the club’s successful past. ............ Barzagli, who won numerous trophies under Conte at Juventus, sees similarities between the two coaches. The former centre-back praised Tudor’s strong character and influence in the dressing room: “Igor has a strong mentality, the result of his past as a player: you either have it or you don’t. He’s a convinced, direct guy and the players perceive and appreciate this. From this point of view Tudor is very similar to Conte”. Conte’s time at Juventus laid the foundation for their recent decade of domestic dominance, so any comparison to him should be taken seriously. ............ Currently, Tudor is leading Juventus through a strong campaign at the Club World Cup in the United States. His team has shown signs of cohesion and resilience, qualities that supporters have long demanded. The positive performances have increased optimism among the fanbase, many of whom now believe that Juve could go far in the tournament. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/strong-mentality-barzagli-compares-tudor-to-juventus-legend/

Tether gains more stake at Juventus as they eye a board seat Tether is buying more Juventus shares and has recently increased its stake in the club. ............ The Agnelli family continues to be the dominant force behind Juventus, as they own the largest portion of shares in the organisation. Their control over the club’s strategic direction and leadership has never been in doubt, and there is no indication that this will change soon. Tether, a well-known name in the crypto-financial world, has become increasingly active in its Juventus investment strategy. After acquiring shares earlier, the company has now increased its stake to 10.12 percent of the club’s share capital. This move makes Tether the second-largest shareholder in Juventus behind the Agnelli family. Tether is not just interested in holding shares passively. They are now pushing for greater involvement in club affairs and have expressed interest in gaining a seat on the Juventus board. This would allow them to take part in key decisions and help shape the future of the club from within. ............ Despite Tether’s growing stake and desire for more influence, the Agnelli family is unlikely to give up control. Their long-standing ownership and majority shareholding ensure they remain in charge of critical decisions, including board appointments and long-term planning. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/tether-gains-more-stake-at-juventus-as-they-eye-a-board-seat/