Club World Cup: David Versus Goliath Part Two in Pennsylvania

Manchester City vs Wydad AC

Wydad AC are three-time Caf Champions League victors so you must be excited as they prepare to play the multi-billion pounds conglomerate that is Manchester City right?

Wrong!

For this is another of those Club World Cup contests that is David versus Goliath – albeit not at the same level amateur outfit Auckland City had to face when they took on German champions Bayern Munich at the weekend and were abruptly hit for 10.

Don’t for one minute think I’m being disrespectful. After all, Wydad are the 22-times Moroccan champions, a nation which has produced players of the calibre of Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat and Hakim Ziyech.

A nation which so impressed at the last World Cup when it finished fourth – representing Africa, the Arab world and the power of diaspora, the Atlas Lions and their fans told a story that is relatable the entire world over.

But at club level, this is surely where any romantic synergy ends. 

 

Talking Points

This SBOTOP observer is not being negative.

Wydad’s journey is emblematic of Morocco’s broader football renaissance. The country has invested heavily in infrastructure, youth development and international partnerships, while Morocco’s successful bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain has further boosted its role as a rising football power.

At the same time, though, I have to be realistic.

Morrocco’s main stars normally ply their trade out of the country.

Wydad AC earned their place in the 32-team tournament by winning the 2021–22 CAF Champions League, defeating Egyptian rivals Al Ahly 2–0 in a memorable final in Casablanca.

Wydad have not won the Caf competition or the league since, with Mohamed Amine Benhachem’s side finishing third in the latter this term.

Drawn into Group G, they now face a formidable challenge against City, Italian giants Juventus, and UAE’s Al Ain.

By contrast, City are on a different playing field and this fixture represents a potential early chance for their new arrivals to strut their stuff.

That all said, they need to avoid the embarrassment of an opening game setback and manager Pep Guardiola knows the summer tournament in the US can provide a blueprint for success after a trophyless season, capped by defeat in the FA Cup Final.

Should they reach the final on July 13, seven games from now, they will be battle-hardened but presumably more buoyant than the emotions an early exit would create.

Last season, the sequence of nine losses, one win and three draws in 13 games from the end of October to Boxing Day was a dismal two months that sent Guardiola a message he could not ignore: that he had been wrong to refuse the executive’s offer of a sizeable squad refresh last summer.

Instead, too late, this came in January, as Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico González were bought in a £172 million winter window splurge (unprecedented-for-City). Of the quartet, only Marmoush has thus far proved his worth, although González has shown he could prove an astute signing.

Looking at the bigger picture, I have two lines of thought with this. One is that by gaining valuable game time now, City’s new boys – which now include 

Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki – should be ready to hit the ground running when next season comes around.

The second viewpoint is that this tournament means those who star will potentially not get a break at all and will suffer at some point, from either a lack of pre-season or fatigue, towards the end of the next campaign.

I could be wrong but that must be a genuine concern.

For now, however, City’s focus will be on recovering from a miserable season by delivering World Club Championship 2025 highlights and trying to become the inaugural winners of the competition in its new format. 

 

History

This will be the first ever meeting between the sides.

 

Betting Tip

The World Club Championship 2025 betting odds are as pretty one-sided as they could be.

City can be backed 1X2 @ 1.026 and Asian Handicap -3.00 @ 1.90. Wydad are priced at a mind-boggling 1X2 @ 34.00 and Asian Handicap +2.75 @ 2.26.

The draw @ 10.50 is optimistic at best.

It’s clear plenty of goals are expected when you look at odds of total goal 0-1 @ 6.80, 2-3 @ 2.52 and 4-6 @ 2.09.It is, as far as I’m concerned, impossible not to back City but, for a half decent outcome in your pocket, my *** tip is Over 3.75 goals @ 2.01.

   

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