Top scorers in the group stage of the Club World Cup with 13 goals (despite Bayern's 10-0 win over Auckland City), and the only team to win all three of their games, Manchester City will approach the Round of 16 match against Saudi giants, Al Hilal, with confidence.
Pep Guardiola's side are already in the groove with some of their big names such as Phil Foden and Erling Haaland coming to the fore in this tournament.
Man City vs Al Hilal Live Win ProbabilityOpta by Stats Perform
It is worth pointing out that Al Hilal earned a creditable draw against serial CWC winners, Real Madrid, earlier in the tournament, and also avoided defeat against another European side in RB Salzburg, though this could be a different test entirely.
Inter Milan or Fluminense lie in wait for the winners, meaning the Nerazzurri, should they progress, have a chance to get revenge on the Cityzens after they lost the Champions League final to them back in 2023.
Third recent battle between Guardiola and Inzaghi
Should Inter and Al Hilal triumph it would bring Simone Inzaghi into immediate conflict with the team he only left ahead of this tournament, yet another potentially amazing coincidence that the game of football often throws up.
It will be the third battle in recent years between Guardiola and Inzaghi after the pair also met when their teams collided in the 2024/25 season of the Champions League and played out a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium in the group stage.
In the lead up to the game, Inzaghi was fulsome in his praise of his opposite number.
“I believe every coach that starts to train considers Guardiola an inspiration,” he said.
“I believe there was football before and there will be after Guardiola, but he developed a new philosophy of football and a new way of playing.
“I believe he is the best coach over the last 20-25 years and is a great example for us as a coach.
“We were not coming here just to have fun, we were coming here to play a Club World Cup and we wanted to reach this stages.
“Now we’ll have to play against Manchester City … one of the greatest teams in the world. These are the games where you can improve and mature as a team, so I’m very proud.”
For the Saudi side, overcoming Man City would be the biggest of scalps and would send out a huge message to those other teams left in the competition that they mean business. Moreover, an Al Hilal victory would do wonders for the Saudi Pro League and football in the region more generally.
Both teams are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions and Camping World Stadium in Orlando will host the tie which gives City the opportunity of reversing the result of the only previous match between the two, a club friendly way back in July 2012 which Al Hilal won 1-0.
'Energy is different', says Nunes
Given the heat, potential weather delays and lack of rest since the end of last season, it would be no surprise to see Guardiola rotating his players again, and that could mean starts for the likes of new signings Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Marcus Bettinelli.
"I think the energy is different,” Matheus Nunes suggested about his teammates.
“Last year we were a little down in terms of spirit, but we know what it means to play for Manchester City and this season that's definitely going to change.
“What I like most about this tournament is that we entered all the games to win and it has to be that way until the final.”
Mitrovic and Al Dawsari missing for Al Hilal
City may believe that they've a decent chance of getting to the quarter-final at least as both Aleksandr Mitrovic, Al Hilal's hot-shot striker, and captain, Salem Al Dawsari, are again ruled out.
Looking at their final group games as a yardstick of what supporters might expect from the game too, City enjoyed the lion's share of possession (76.1%) against Juventus in their 5-2 victory.
Juventus vs Man City Match StatsOpta by Stats Perform
717 accurate passes from 769 attempted for a 93.2% accuracy is undoubtedly the stat which may worry Al Hilal the most. Even Juventus only managed to play 193 accurate passes in response, and if the Saudi's are to have any chance at all of causing a major surprise, they have to be able to get their foot on the ball.
Pep's swashbucklers were found wanting in the more physical aspects of that game, attempting just 12 tackles compared to Juve's 21, and managing just five interceptions (11 for Juve), suggesting that if Al Hilal can get at them, they may garner some success.
Al Hilal vs Pachuca Match StatsOpta by Stats Perform
The Saudi side ceded possession to Pachuca last time out (48.2% to 51.8%), but when it mattered they took their chances.
More tackles, one-to-one duels and aerial duels won once again evidenced that Al Hilal are a team willing to roll their sleeves up and get the job done, given that they were also slightly second best in terms of passes in the final third (108 to 109), total passes (449 to 476), pass accuracy (83.3% to 85.5%) and crosses (nine to 19).
Fascinating game in prospect
Inzaghi will certainly need to use all of his nous from his time spent in the European leagues and the previous experiences of playing Pep Guardiola to emerge victorious.
City have shown they are the team to beat along with Paris Saint-Germain, but as unfancied Crystal Palace found out in the FA Cup final, frustrate them and stop them from playing their natural game and they are beatable.
A fascinating match is therefore in prospect...