Club World Cup Quarterfinals: Manchester City vs. Al Hilal – Predicted Lineups Revealed

The FIFA Club World Cup is nearing its thrilling conclusion, and after a captivating group stage filled with surprises, the quarterfinals are now underway, poised to determine the world's top eight teams for 2025. Among the highly anticipated clashes is the face-off between European powerhouse Manchester City and Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal.

Al Hilal earned their quarterfinal spot on the final day of the group stage, remaining undefeated with two draws and a crucial victory. They impressed by securing second place in their group, even holding Real Madrid to a draw, showcasing their formidable level of play.

Here are the expected lineups for this quarterfinal showdown:

Manchester City's Predicted XI vs. Al Hilal:

• Goalkeeper: Ederson
• Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Rayan Aït-Nouri
• Midfielders: Tijjani Reijnders, Rodri Hernández, Bernardo Silva
• Forwards: Savinho, Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku

Al Hilal's Predicted XI vs. Manchester City:

• Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou
• Defenders: João Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hassan Altambakti, Renán Lodi
• Midfielders: Rúben Neves, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Salem Al-Dawsari, Sergej Milinković-Savić
• Forwards: Malcom, Marcos Leonardo

Who Will Prevail? Manchester City Favored for Quarterfinal Victory

Looking at the strength of both squads and their performances so far, Manchester City is widely considered the clear favorite to emerge victorious from this quarterfinal tie. Pep Guardiola's side boasts world-class talent across every position, a deep bench, and a highly refined tactical system. Their ability to control games, create numerous scoring opportunities, and maintain defensive solidity will be difficult for any team to overcome.

While Al Hilal has proven their resilience and defensive organization by remaining unbeaten in their group and even drawing with Real Madrid, Manchester City's offensive firepower, spearheaded by Erling Haaland, combined with their Champions League-winning experience, is expected to be the decisive factor. Al Hilal will undoubtedly put up a strong fight, but City's overall quality should see them through to the semifinals.