Manchester City’s Predicted XI vs Al Hilal: Haaland and Cherki In, Ait-Nouri Out

Manchester City are preparing to face Al Hilal in the Club World Cup Round of 16, with qualification to the quarter-finals up for grabs. Pep Guardiola is expected to make selective changes to his squad while maintaining a strong lineup to continue their momentum.

The Blues enter the knockout phase after a 5-2 victory over Juventus, a performance that Guardiola praised as one of their best in recent memory. The Catalan boss has made clear that squad rotation is a necessity this summer, particularly with tight fixtures ahead in the Premier League and Champions League.

As a result, Ederson is likely to retain his place in goal despite a mixed outing against Juventus. Matheus Nunes could start at right-back again following two assists, while Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol are expected to return in defense, displacing Rayan Ait-Nouri and Manu Akanji.

Rodri may be rested as he continues his gradual return from injury, opening up space for Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders in midfield. Phil Foden should come back into the lineup, while Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland will likely lead the attack alongside in-form Jeremy Doku.

 Predicted XI

Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Reijnders, Foden; Cherki, Doku, Haaland

FAQ

• Who is predicted to miss out?
  Rayan Ait-Nouri, Manu Akanji, and possibly Rodri.
• Which players are making a case to start?
  Rayan Cherki, Matheus Nunes, and Jeremy Doku.
• What are the injury concerns?
  Rodri is being managed carefully, and Claudio Echeverri remains unavailable.

 Conclusion

Guardiola’s lineup reflects the challenge of balancing performance with player preservation. With Al Hilal up next, the predicted XI offers a mix of explosive attack and tactical depth, setting City up well to push for Club World Cup glory.