Manchester City turned on the style to seal top spot in Group G at the Club World Cup with an emp...

Manchester City turned on the style to seal top spot in Group G at the Club World Cup with an emphatic 5-2 win over Juventus on Thursday.The third straight victory for Pep Guardiola's side increases the chances of City avoiding a meeting with Real Madrid in the last 16 -- a fate that may now await Juventus.City and Juve will not know their opponent until the final pair of games in Group H conclude later on Friday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>A positive day for City saw 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri make his first start since rupturing his ACL in September and Guardiola's side, featuring several new faces, look significantly improved on the team which struggled to finish 13 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool last season.City were on top from the outset with a Bernardo Silva header forcing Juve keeper Michele Di Gregorio to save with his feet in the fifth minute.Four minutes later, Guardiola's new-look side had the lead when after a characteristic, patient build-up, Rayan Ait-Nouri split the Juve defence with a superb pass which Jeremy Doku collected and dispatched into the far corner.Juve were gifted an equaliser when City's Brazilian keeper Ederson's pass out was intercepted by Teun Koopmeiners who marched into the box and confidently fired home.Juve returned the gift though in the 26th minute when French defender Pierre Kalulu, under no pressure, turned a low cross from Matheus Nunes into his own net.A short but intense downpour just before half-time cooled the stadium down and Guardiola introduced his prolific Norwegian striker Erling Haaland at the break and it took just seven minutes for him to find the scoresheet.Tijjani Reijnders fed Matheus Nunes whose low cross found an unmarked Haaland in the middle and while it wasn't the cleanest of finishes from close range, the striker celebrated his 300th career goal.Rodri left the field in the 66th minute to applause as Ilkay Gundogan took over his role in the centre of midfield but City continued to over-run the Turin side.Haaland latched on to a long ball from Ederson and looked for fellow sub Phil Foden in the middle but put his cross beyond the England man only for Savinho to recover it and set-up Foden for a simple conversion.Savinho then made made it 5-1 when after a Haaland shot was saved by De Gregorio's feet, the Brazilian met the loose ball with a thundering drive which flew in off the underside of the bar.Juventus had created little but restored a little pride when Kenan Yildiz produced a lovely touch and clever pass to set Dusan Vlahovic free and the Serbian beat Ederson from the edge of the box."It has been a long time since we had a performance like this on and off the ball. The players were committed and we are happy to beat a top side," Guardiola said afterwards."This is just one game, but I think the players felt again what it was like to be a good team. The belief always comes from your performances, not your past," added Guardiola, who was delighted to have Rodri back at the heart of his team."We have missed him a lot. He knows exactly what he has to do with the ball, and his personality. I didn't expect him to play as many minutes. He will be ready for the next one. Everybody gave an incredible performance," he said.For Juventus it was a mauling that they will need to quickly recover from before their last 16 game."They have much stronger players than us and I'm not going to look for excuses," said Croatian coach Igor Tudor."We suffered. We weren't able to steal the ball, we were deep and we didn't play well with the ball. We paid for everything, we had to be perfect but they always arrived first to the ball," he added."This defeat does not put anything into perspective, we played against the best team in the world. I have nothing to reproach my players for, we'll take this blow, now we'll rest and move on."

Manchester City's English midfielder #47 Phil Foden (R) celebrates with teammate Brazilian midfielder #26 Savinho after scoring his team's fourth goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group D football match between Italy's Juventus and England's Manchester City at the Camping World stadium in Orlando on June 26, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31648478/related

Man City trounce Juve to reach CWC knockouts with perfect record

Kylian Mbappe has accused his former club Paris Saint-Germain of moral harassment in a legal fili...

Kylian Mbappe has accused his former club Paris Saint-Germain of moral harassment in a legal filing, the Paris prosecutor's office told AFP on Thursday as it confirmed an investigation had been opened.France captain Mbappe is also embroiled in a court battle with PSG to obtain the 55 million euros ($64.4 million) in unpaid wages and bonuses he says the club owes him.Mbappe's latest grievance is related to the way he was treated by PSG at the start of the 2023-24 season, when he was made to train with players the club were trying to offload.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He believes he was sidelined by the club after refusing to agree a new contract, a practice which has also affected other footballers and prompted the French players' union to lodge a complaint last year.Mbappe was not invited to a 2023 pre-season tour of Asia and missed the first game of that season but was later restored to the team after holding talks with the club.The 26-year-old joined Real Madrid last summer after seven seasons with PSG. He scored 256 goals in 308 games for the French club, who won the Champions League last month for the first time following the striker's departure.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 25: Kylian Mbappe, player of Real Madrid, in action during the training ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match at Lincoln Financial Field on June 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31645457/related

Mbappe files harassment complaint against PSG

Liverpool on Thursday announced they had completed the £40-million ($55 million) signing of Bourn...

Liverpool on Thursday announced they had completed the £40-million ($55 million) signing of Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez.The 21-year-old, who has penned a five-year deal, is the third major signing of the transfer window for the Premier League champions following the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz.Germany midfielder Wirtz was signed for a club-record fee that could reportedly rise to £116 million.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>With Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili joining next month in a deal done 12 months ago there will be more than £200 million of new talent present when preseason training starts.Left-back Kerkez is viewed as the long-term successor to 31-year-old Andy Robertson, who is a target for Atletico Madrid."I'm really happy," said the Hungary international. "It's a real honour for me, a privilege to come to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, the biggest club in England. I'm just really, really happy and excited."After this, I'll go home and in my hometown enjoy a few days, and then I can't really wait to come back and put the training kit on and start to train and prepare for the season."Kerkez made 74 appearances for Bournemouth after joining from AZ Alkmaar two years ago, scoring twice."I just want to thank everyone for really showing me big love, even before it will be announced."

KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JUNE 26: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Milos Kerkez new signing for Liverpool FC at AXA Training Centre on June 26, 2025 in Kirkby, England.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31644321/related

Liverpool sign Kerkez for reported £40M as summer spree continues

A solitary first-half goal by Daniel Svensson gave Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 win against Ulsan HD o...

A solitary first-half goal by Daniel Svensson gave Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 win against Ulsan HD on Wednesday as the Germans secured a place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup.Dortmund's second straight victory by a one-goal margin, following their 4-3 defeat of Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, was watched by only just over 8,000 spectators in Cincinnati, among them US Vice President JD Vance and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.It means Dortmund qualify for the last 16 as winners of Group F, while Fluminense go through behind them in second after holding off Sundowns in a goalless stalemate played at the same time in Miami.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We can be satisfied. I think our performance was better than in the first two matches," said Dortmund coach Niko Kovac.He has spoken regularly at the tournament about the difficulties posed by the searing June heat in the United States, and this was another game played in sweltering mid-afternoon conditions."We keep saying the same thing. What the boys are doing is incredible. Thirty-six degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) and 43 degrees in the stadium. This is incredible," Kovac said."Even if you just stand around it can get very taxing but I think they are doing a great job. Now we have a day off and I hope the players recover for the next match."Kovac only made two changes to his starting line-up as Karim Adeyemi and Julian Ryerson came in, while Jobe Bellingham kept his place in the team.The Bundesliga giants should have won by a greater margin on another hot day in Cincinnati, but Serhou Guirassy was denied by a good Jo Hyeon-woo save on 27 minutes.Bellingham then fizzed a volley just over from an Adeyemi cross moments later, but the crucial goal arrived on 36 minutes -- soft defending by Ulsan saw the Koreans lose possession on the edge of their own box before Bellingham teed up Svensson and the Swede fired in low on his left foot.Guirassy, who has had a prolific season, should have scored in first-half stoppage time with a header from close range which was straight at the goalkeeper.Dortmund's Gregor Kobel was then called into action on the hour mark to deny Lee Jin-hyun, while Yan Couto came close to making it 2-0 late on.Kovac's team will now play their last-16 tie in Atlanta next Tuesday and will find out the identity of their opponents later on Wednesday when Group E concludes."Now we have to leave everything on the pitch. The stakes are high. It is about prestige and money. I think we will see an increase in quality," said Kovac.Ulsan go home with three defeats from three games, while Fluminense are through, meaning all four Brazilian teams in the competition have progressed to the knockout phase.Conditions were also tough in Miami, where captain Jhon Arias flashed a shot across the face of goal and wide for Fluminense late in the first half.German Cano came close for the Rio de Janeiro side after the break, while Sundowns enjoyed more of the possession over the 90 minutes but could not get the win they needed to progress in front of a crowd of 14,312.Their exit means none of the four African clubs who came to the tournament will feature in the last 16, but Sundowns' performances mean they can go home with their heads held high."We are not happy. We had a clear objective in this match, but I am very proud of the level the players performed at," said the South African champions' coach, Miguel Cardoso."We leave and go home with our heads up because we are much stronger than we were when we came here."

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 25: Daniel Svensson of Dortmund (C) celebrating his goal with his teammate Jobe Bellingham of Dortmund (L) during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group F match between Borussia Dortmund and Ulsan HD FC at TQL Stadium on June 25, 2025 in Cincinnati, United States.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31638381/related

Dortmund, Fluminense advance at CWC as Sundowns bow out

Harvey Elliott scored twice as reigning champions England defeated the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesd...

Harvey Elliott scored twice as reigning champions England defeated the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday to set up a final against Germany at the Under-21 European Championship.Lee Carsley's youngsters are bidding for a second straight title but must get past Germany, who beat France 3-0 in the second semi-final in Slovakia.Liverpool midfielder Elliott hammered home the opening goal for England shortly after the hour mark, making up for two earlier missed chances.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>But Dutch substitute Noah Ohio, who played for England at Under-16 level, equalised for the Netherlands in the 72nd minute with a speculative effort from long range.Elliott, who was part of the England squad which won the tournament in 2023, had the final say with four minutes remaining, cutting inside and slotting a clinical finish into the bottom corner.Nelson Weiper volleyed Germany ahead in the eighth minute against France and Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade turned in a rebound to double the lead on the quarter hour.Germany missed a hatful of chances to put the game to bed in the second half before Brighton's Brajan Gruda added a third in stoppage time.

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA - JUNE 25: Harvey Elliott of England scores his team's second goal during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Semi-Final match between England and Netherlands at National Football stadium on June 25, 2025 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31636332/related

Elliott-inspired England to face Germany in U21 Euros final

A Spanish court has sent Qatari royal Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani and three of his sons to trial for...

A Spanish court has sent Qatari royal Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani and three of his sons to trial for alleged offences committed during his management of former La Liga club Malaga, legal sources said on Wednesday.Ex-club president Al-Thani, a distant relative of Qatar's ruling family, and his children are accused of misappropriation, unfair administration and imposing abusive agreements, according to a Malaga court document dated Monday.They theoretically face prison terms if convicted for their running of the current second-division side from Andalusia that ended in relegation and financial implosion.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Al-Thani bought Malaga in 2010 and launched the modest club into a spending spree that acquired stars including Santi Cazorla and former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.The success was short-lived. After reaching the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013, Malaga went on to lose their stars and were relegated from La Liga in 2018 and fell to the third tier in 2023.The Covid-19 pandemic saw their finances sink into crisis, with the club placed under supervision by the Spanish tax authorities and presenting a collective redundancy plan.A court removed Al-Thani from his post as president in 2020 following a complaint submitted by a group of small club shareholders.

(FILES) This file picture dated September 19, 2010 shows Malaga CF's chairman Sheikh Abdallah Ben Nasser Al-Thani during a Spanish league football match match between Malaga C.F. and Sevilla at Rosaleda stadium. Spanish side Malaga will not be able to play in the Europa League next season after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld UEFA's one-year European ban, the tribunal announced on June 11, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JORGE GUERRERO

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31635695/related

Report: Former Malaga owner sent to trial in Spain for alleged offences

Al-Nassr have parted company with their Italian coach Stefano Pioli, the Saudi side announced on ...

Al-Nassr have parted company with their Italian coach Stefano Pioli, the Saudi side announced on Wednesday.No official reason was given for the split after only nine months in the post but Pioli's name has been linked with joining Fiorentina for a second spell in charge of the Serie A side."Al-Nassr announces that Mr Pioli and his staff no longer coach the first team," Cristiano Ronaldo's club posted on social media.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We would like to thank Mr Pioli and his staff for their work last season," added Al-Nassr, who finished third in the Saudi Pro League.Pioli, who guided AC Milan to the 2022 Serie A crown, only joined Al-Nassr in September 2024.Prior to his near five-year stint at AC Milan, the 59-year-old coached several other Italian sides including Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Lazio and Bologna.

Nassr's Italian coach Stefano Pioli (R) speaks with Nassr's Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo as he warms up ahead of the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Fayha at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on February 7, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31634082/related

Pioli steps down as head coach of Ronaldo's Al-Nassr

England beat India by five wickets in the first Test at Headingley after a superb 149 from opener...

England beat India by five wickets in the first Test at Headingley after a superb 149 from opener Ben Duckett helped make light of a seemingly stiff chase of 371.Below AFP Sport looks at three aspects of a gripping encounter that ended with England 1-0 up in five-match series: Tail-end runs and wickets matter<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>India became the first side in the more than 60,000 game history of first-class cricket to score five individual hundreds in a match and still lose. This remarkable feat can be explained by collapses of 7-41 and 6-31 at the end of each inningsEngland fast bowler Josh Tongue, who removed several tailenders while taking seven wickets during the match said:. "I don't mind bowling at the tail. You've got a good opportunity to take wickets. All I tried to do was to hit the pitch hard."  Pant a modern marvelRishabh Pant could yet end his career having surpassed Australia's outstanding Adam Gilchrist as the most extraordinary wicketkeeper-batsman cricket has known.His astounding audacity with the bat was on full display in Leeds as he became only the second wicketkeeper, after Zimbabwe's Andy Flower, to score hundreds in both innings of a Test match with 134 and then 118.Some of Pant's shot-making, including over the shoulder flicks, at fast bowlers has to be seen to believed, with his continued involvement in cricket a triumph after he suffered life-threatening injuries in a horrific car crash in December 2022 that kept him out of action for 15 months.KL Rahul, who made a relatively restrained 137 while Pant blazed away during the pair's fourth-wicket second-innings stand of 195, summed up the India vice-captain by saying: "I've had a few partnerships with Pant. "It's hard for us to understand his mindset. You've got to let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant, there's obviously a method to his madness!"He's averaging (around) 45 in Test cricket, there's a lot of thinking behind the outrageous shots he plays."Headingley delivers againThis match joined a long list of dramatic Test encounters at Headingley, the headquarters of Yorkshire, one of the cornerstone counties of English cricket.There was the original 'Headingley miracle' of 1981, when Ian Botham scored a barnstorming 149 not out and fast bowler Bob Willis took 8-43 as England won after following on against Australia.There was the 2019 version, where current England captain Ben Stokes steered his side to a stunning one-wicket win over arch-rivals Australia with a remarkable unbeaten hundred.Headingley also staged a two-day Test in 2000 when fast bowler Andrew Caddick led Nasser Hussain's England to victory over West Indies.But visiting teams have enjoyed their fair share of Headingley heroics too, with England great James  Anderson ending a 2014 Test in tears after failing to hang on for a draw alongside century-maker Moeen Ali as Sri Lanka claimed their first series win in England.

England's Joe Root (left) and Jamie Smith celebrate following victory on day five of the first Rothesay Men's Test match at Headingley, Leeds. Picture date: Tuesday June 24, 2025.England's Joe Root (left) and Jamie Smith celebrate following victory on day five of the first Rothesay Men's Test match at Headingley, Leeds. Picture date: Tuesday June 24, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31629390/related

3 things we learned from 1st Test between England, India

England captain Ben Stokes praised his side's approach after they pulled off a remarkable five-wi...

England captain Ben Stokes praised his side's approach after they pulled off a remarkable five-wicket win over India in the first Test at Headingley on Tuesday.Ben Duckett's superb 149 paved the way for England's ultimately comfortable pursuit of 371 on the last day as Stokes' men once more made light of a seemingly stiff chase with the dynamic batting that has been a hallmark of their play in the 'Bazball' era of coach Brendon McCullum.England twice conceded totals in excess of 350 in the first of this five-match series but managed to inflict late-order collapses of 7-41 and 6-31 that proved costly for India.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"There's been a lot of skill that has contributed to us winning this Test match but our attitude as well," said Stokes. "Every session we turned up with the attitude that we could blow this match apart.This was England's second-highest fourth-innings run-chase, just behind the 378-3 they managed also against India  at Edgbaston not long after Stokes and McCullum joined forces as captain and coach."I think we're just a very simple-minded pair, me and Baz (McCullum), when it comes to cricket," Stokes said."Everyone knows what cricket is about, it's about scoring more runs than the opposition. When you strip it all back, that's it...When you're chasing totals like that, how you are in the dressing room is very important."- 'Nightmare for the opposition' -Duckett had one moment of good fortune when he was dropped on 97 on Tuesday but the 30-year-old Nottinghamshire opener was otherwise in commanding form.Together with Zak Crawley (65), he laid the foundation for victory against an India attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, the world's number one-ranked Test bowler, with an outstanding first-wicket partnership of 188."Ducky has been incredible since coming into the team," Stokes said. "He's shown he can score runs pretty much all over the world in any conditions he's faced with."He added: "Ducky got the 149 but Zak was so, so important, too. They complement each other so well. I'm sure you could ask the opposition bowlers about why they're a nightmare when they are in for a long period."Stokes's decision to field first after winning the toss in seemingly ideal batting conditions was criticised by former England captain Michael VaughanBut all-rounder Stokes added: "It's a good job Test cricket is played over five days. You make a decision and you don't know what is going to happen."India coach Gautam Gambhir said the tourists would still stand by their plan to play Bumrah -- who, remarkably, went wicketless in the second innings at Headingley -- in just three of the five Tests to preserve his fitness following a back injury."We won't change the plans," Gambhir said after India's attack rarely threatened on the final day in Leeds. "To manage his workload is more important. Before he came on this tour, it was already decided he would play three Tests but let's see how his body turns out."There is now a break of more than a week until the second Test in Birmingham starts on July 2, with former India batsman Gambhir adding: "We haven't decided which two other Test matches he's going to play. "We absolutely have the bowling attack to take 20 wickets. We pick the squad on trust, not on hope."

England's Ben Stokes walks off the field after being caught out by India's Shubman Gill during day five of the first Rothesay Men's Test match at Headingley, Leeds. Picture date: Tuesday June 24, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31628751/related

Stokes after India triumph: England knew it could 'blow match apart'

Seven-time Ligue 1 champions Lyon said on Tuesday they would appeal their relegation to the secon...

Seven-time Ligue 1 champions Lyon said on Tuesday they would appeal their relegation to the second-tier by French football's financial watchdog.At a hearing earlier in the day, Lyon were unable to convince the regulator (DNCG) to lift the restrictions it had put on the club in November."Over the past few months, we have worked closely with the DNCG, meeting all of its demands with equity investments exceeding the amounts requested," the club said in a statement." <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>After the meeting, Lyon's president John Textor said he remained confident of avoiding the drop to Ligue 2 for next season, where the club has not played since 1989."Our liquidity situation has improved considerably," he said.American Textor took over as Lyon's majority owner in December 2022 from long-standing boss Jean-Michel Aulas, who had overseen unprecedented success at the French outfit.Textor, 59, also holds stakes in Brazilian side Botafoga, Belgian club Molenbeek. Earlier this week he sold his 43 percent stake in Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.According to the BBC, they were sold for 190 million pounds to Woody Johnson, the owner of the NFL's New York Jets.Lyon have reduced their salary bill with attacker Alexandre Lacazette and goalkeeper Anthony Lopes released.They have sold Rayan Cherki to Manchester City and Maxence Caqueret to Como.Textor said his Eagle group has also put 83 million euros into the club."Thanks to the equity contributions from our shareholders and the sale of Crystal Palace, our cash position has improved considerably, and we have more than sufficient resources for the 2025-2026 season," said the club statement.<h3>'Sadness'</h3>Lyon qualified for next season's Europa League after finishing sixth in the French top-flight.If their relegation is confirmed, they would be replaced in Ligue 1 by Reims.Lyon won seven consecutive French titles between 2002 and 2008, under Aulas. "It's a terrible blow to all those who love Lyon" Aulas said on X on Tuesday."For 36 years I made sure that such a situation could not happen."I gave everything to build a solid, respected, ambitious club that was financially healthy."Today, it's sadness that dominates. And an immense failure to understand," the 76-year-old added.Only five clubs have won Ligue 1 more often. Paris Saint-Germain hold the record with 13 titles.Lyon are set to begin their pre-season on July 7.

Olympique Lyonnais' (OL) President John Textor walks pitchside ahead of the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France, on February 23, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31628266/related

Lyon relegated to Ligue 2 due to dire financial state

Lionel Messi faces a reunion with his former club Paris Saint-Germain after his Inter Miami side ...

Lionel Messi faces a reunion with his former club Paris Saint-Germain after his Inter Miami side reached the last 16 of the Club World Cup with a 2-2 draw with Palmeiras.The Brazilian side fought back from two goals down to draw at Hard Rock Stadium, a result which secured both teams a place in the knockout stages.Goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez had Miami on course for a second surprise victory in the tournament after their win over Porto.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>But the Brazilian side struck twice in the last 10 minutes through Paulinho and Mauricio to make sure of their place in the next round.Few expected Miami to make it out of the group but they now face the European champions while Palmeiras will have an all-Brazilian encounter with Botafogo.For Messi, who celebrates his 38th birthday on Tuesday, the tie in Atlanta will see him face his former club PSG for the first time since leaving them to join Miami in 2023."It's a historic night for the MLS because we are into the best 16 teams in the world and all the MLS have to be proud of Inter Miami," said Miami coach Javier Mascherano.The result meant that Egyptian club Al Ahly and Porto were both eliminated despite producing a highly entertaining 4-4 draw at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.There were six Argentines in the Miami starting line-up which took the field in front of a large Brazilian contingent in the 60,914 crowd.The travelling fans were on their feet in the opening minutes when Gustavo Gomez powered a header goalwards from a corner but Oscar Ustari was down well to save.Miami grabbed the lead in the 16th minute when Suarez brilliantly chested a long ball into the path of the on-rushing Allende who showed pace to break clear of the Brazilian defence and then composure to fire past Weverton.<h3>'Great game'</h3>Palmeiras's tactics of sitting off Miami were not working with Messi dropping deep and linking up with Sergio Busquets and Federico Redondo as the Major League Soccer side enjoyed plenty of possession.The only chance for Palmeiras before the break came when Facundo Torres found himself in a promising position after some sloppy Miami defending but he screwed his shot wide.Messi's first real effort on goal came four minutes after the restart when he eked out just enough room on the edge of the box for a low shot but Weverton was down well.Allende threatened again when he broke down the right and flashed a shot just wide of the post and Messi drove a bouncing ball narrowly over the bar as Miami pushed for a second goal.That came in the 65th minute with the 38-year-old former Barcelona striker Suarez rolling back the years as he dribbled past two defenders and then blasted into the top corner.Top spot in the group mattered to Miami as it would have avoided the clash with PSG but it was not to be as Palmeiras earned themselves a crucial point with their late revival.Substitute Paulinho fired home in the 80th minute after a lovely reverse pass from Allan Andrade.Then, with three minutes left on the clock, Maxi Falcon's header fell straight to Mauricio who pounced on the opportunity, rifling into the far corner to make it 2-2."It was a great game from us, it's difficult to play against one of the best teams in South America," said Mascherano."Maybe at the end we had the game in our hands so the feeling is strange but before the start of the tournament if someone told me we were going to have this kind of performance against these kind of teams I would have signed for it."Abel Ferreira, the Palmeiras head coach, was highly critical of his team's opening 45 minutes but pleased with their reaction."I told them at half-time that it was impossible to do worse than what we did in the first half. We were unable to contain our opponents or put pressure on them up front. But our spirit of fighting until the end was particularly important in the second half, and we were rewarded for that," he said.

Palmeiras' Colombian midfielder #08 Richard Rios fights for the ball with Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi as he shoots but fails to score during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group A football match between US Inter Miami and Brazil's Palmeiras at the Hard Rock stadium in Miami on June 23, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31624102/related

Messi to meet ex-club PSG in CWC as Miami, Palmeiras reach last 16

Real Madrid shrugged off an early red card to defeat Mexico's Pachuca 3-1 and take a big step tow...

Real Madrid shrugged off an early red card to defeat Mexico's Pachuca 3-1 and take a big step toward the knockout stage of the Club World Cup on Sunday.The result leaves Madrid, under new head coach Xabi Alonso, on top of Group H with four points while Pachuca are eliminated after two defeats.Saudi club Al-Hilal, who held Real in their opener, tied second-placed Salzburg later on Sunday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Spanish giants were in trouble after just seven minutes when Raul Asencio was shown a straight red card after he pulled down Salomon Rondon with the Venezuelan clear on goal.That left the Liga MX team sensing the chance for an upset in front of 70,248 fans at the home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Pachuca quickly went close when Brazilian Kenedy saw a shot parried out by Thibaut Courtois and the Belgian keeper did brilliantly to deny Alan Bautista's follow up shot.But Real were able to get a grip on the game in midfield and slow the pace down, limiting opportunities for Pachuca.It was a superbly worked team goal that provided the breakthrough for Madrid in the 35th minute.Gonzalo Garcia's clever flick released Fran Garcia down the left and he looked inside to Jude Bellingham who took the ball in his stride and then buried a left-foot shot into the corner.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Every angle. Every touch. 🎯🔥 Jude Bellingham’s finish, exactly how it deserves to be seen. ⚽👑 Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFACWC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fifacwc</a> | June 14 - July 13 | Every Game | Free | <a href="https://t.co/i0K4eUu4lJ">https://t.co/i0K4eUu4lJ</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFACWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFACWC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeItToTheWorld?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TakeItToTheWorld</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RMAPAC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RMAPAC</a> <a href="https://t.co/sy2oRQ8gz1">pic.twitter.com/sy2oRQ8gz1</a>— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAZNFootball/status/1936889612406055217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Pachuca were not disheartened though and Courtois had to be alert again to push away a low drive from the dangerous Kenedy.But two minutes before the break Real doubled their advantage when Trent Alexander-Arnold drilled a low cross in from the right and Arda Guler collected Gonzalo's deft lay-off and fired home.Pachuca created a pile of chances after the break, peppering Courtois's goal, but the Belgian was up to the task denying Brazilian substitute John Kennedy and efforts from Rondon and Bryan Gonzalez.Javier Eduardo Lopez missed the best opportunity for the Mexican side, firing wide after some sloppy defending from Madrid.The outcome was put beyond doubt in the 70th minute when Federico Valverde slid the ball home after a smart exchange with Brahim Diaz.Pachuca finally got some reward for their determined effort when Elias Montiel's shot on the turn was deflected off Aurelien Tchouameni and flew past the wrongfooted Courtois.Alonso, who tasted victory for the first time as Real coach, praised the way his team handled the early setback."We had to be defensively, for almost all the game with one player less and it became really intense for us, but we defended with a lot of sacrifice and solidarity which is what it takes," he said."We waited for our chances, so I was really pleased with the performance with a player less," he added.The Real coach said he was pleased to see his team's ability to change plan during a game."We want to have the culture that we understand situations, the structure, the context and we understand what it takes in each moment, with strong principles."I think that game intelligence gives you another edge and today I am pleased how they understood the quick change in the cooling break that we had," he added.Pachuca coach Jaime Lozano said his team had failed to make the most of the extra man."We had a great start, (but) we did not make the most of our advantage. They have the strongest players in the world and their players were amazing. Their strongest feature is that they don't need to play at their best to win any match, they were amazing," he said.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 22: Jude Bellingham #5 of Real Madrid C. F. celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid CF and CF Pachuca at Bank of America Stadium on June 22, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31613819/related

Real Madrid overcome early red card to beat Pachuca

Kenan Yildiz scored two goals and had a hand in another as Juventus beat Wydad Casablanca 4-1 at ...

Kenan Yildiz scored two goals and had a hand in another as Juventus beat Wydad Casablanca 4-1 at the Club World Cup on Sunday.The Turkish international forward was unlucky not to be credited with Juve's early opener which went down as an own goal by Abdelmounaim Boutouil.However, there was no doubt that Yildiz was the scorer of the second with a tremendous strike from outside the box.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Thembinkosi Lorch pulled one back for Wydad before the break, but Yildiz got his second of the afternoon on 69 minutes before a late Dusan Vlahovic penalty sealed the victory for the Italian side.Having already defeated Emirati side Al Ain 5-0 in their opening match, Juve have scored nine goals and have the maximum six points after two outings in Group G.Their qualification for the knockout phase was assured when group rivals Manchester City crushed Al Ain 6-0 later in the day.Igor Tudor's Juve lead Group G ahead of the finale on Thursday against City in Orlando. Moroccan giants Wydad, meanwhile, are eliminated with this defeat following a 2-0 loss at the hands of City in their first outing."I'm happy. It was not easy. It was hot, but it was a good win. At the end our quality came out," Tudor told broadcaster DAZN, before hailing the performance of Yildiz."He has great potential. He has a lot of skills but more important than skills is his brain, that is the key. A wonderful player, so there is a big future in front of him."Yildiz, the 20-year-old German-born winger, was among the scorers against Al Ain and he was the star of the show here in front of 31,975 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.<h3>Juve unchanged at kickoff</h3>Juve, who finished fourth in Serie A in the campaign just finished, went with an unchanged starting line-up meaning the likes of Vlahovic and Manuel Locatelli began the game on the bench.Prolific against Al Ain, they wasted no time in putting the team that finished third in the Moroccan league to the sword.The opening goal came on six minutes as Khephren Thuram teed up Yildiz and his shot beat goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid with the aid of a slight deflection off Boutouil.It was 2-0 on 16 minutes via a superb effort, as Andrea Cambiaso went on a piercing run in from the left before laying the ball off for Yildiz to smash in a shot on the half-volley into the top corner.Wydad quickly pulled one back as veteran Nordin Amrabat's fine pass in behind the defence released South African winger Lorch to control and clip a shot past the goalkeeper.Yet Juventus were well on top and Cambiaso hit the post just prior to the hour mark before Randal Kolo Muani somehow failed to turn in Lloyd Kelly's ball across the face of goal.Their third goal did arrive just after the midway point in the second half when France forward Kolo Muani collected possession on the left and then slipped in Yildiz who finished into the corner.It was his third goal at the tournament so far, and his 12th in all competitions since the season began.Yildiz had been withdrawn before the fourth goal arrived in stoppage time, substitute Vlahovic stroking in a spot-kick awarded after he had been hauled down by Guilherme Ferreira.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 22: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus celebrates 2-0 goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Juventus FC and Wydad AC at Lincoln Financial Field on June 22, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31611788/related

Yildiz steals the show as Juve keep rolling at Club World Cup

Substitute Bruno Henrique played a starring role as Flamengo came roaring back in the second half...

Substitute Bruno Henrique played a starring role as Flamengo came roaring back in the second half to beat Chelsea 3-1 at the Club World Cup on Friday, maintaining an impressive record for South American teams so far at the competition.Pedro Neto had given Chelsea the lead in the first half but Flamengo, roared on by their frenzied supporters who made up the majority of the 54,019 crowd, did not deserve to be behind and produced a stunning fightback after the interval.Bruno Henrique came off the bench in the 56th minute and equalised for the Brazilian giants just after the hour mark before setting up Danilo to make it 2-1.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Chelsea were stunned, and their hopes of pulling level again were effectively destroyed when substitute Nicolas Jackson was sent off in the 68th minute.Wallace Yan, also on as a substitute, then sealed the victory for the Rio de Janeiro club, the Brazilian league leaders, when he made it 3-1 late on."It was a special day for me and our club," said Flamengo coach Filipe Luis, a former Chelsea player."We knew we would have chances against Chelsea because we have one way to play and they know how to follow that path."I am really happy with the game but it is just one win. Now we have to think about the next game and try to go through this group phase because it is not easy."With two wins from two at the tournament, Flamengo are on the brink of qualification for the last 16 from Group D.Chelsea, meanwhile, were unable to repeat the victory obtained in their opening game against Los Angeles FC but will be hopeful of securing a place in the knockout phase in their final group outing against Esperance of Tunisia."Unfortunately we conceded two goals in a very short period, a very short moment, and then the red card, and then I think it's very complicated to come back in the game," Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca told broadcaster DAZN."We tried, but congratulations to them. I think they deserved to win."The result follows Botafogo's stunning success against European champions Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday, stretching the unbeaten record for South American clubs at the competition to nine matches.Maresca made four changes to his line-up following the win over LAFC in Atlanta, with new signing Liam Delap coming in for his first start up front.Delap had an early effort tipped over but it was Neto who gave Chelsea the lead in the 13th minute as he pounced on a slip by Wesley to run through and score a second goal in as many games at FIFA's new competition.<h3>Jackson red card</h3>Flamengo applied plenty of pressure in the first half without really looking like scoring, but it was a different story after the break.They nearly drew level on 54 minutes when Gerson pounced on a mistake by Reece James and tried to pick his spot in the corner. His connection was poor, and the arriving Gonzalo Plata could not turn the ball in at the back post.The 34-year-old Bruno Henrique, capped twice by Brazil earlier in his career, then came on as the pendulum swung further towards Flamengo.Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez tipped over a shot by Plata just before the equaliser came on 62 minutes.A Gerson cross was headed back across goal by Plata and Bruno Henrique was there to turn it in, sparking wild celebrations among the Brazilian fans clad in red and black at Lincoln Financial Field.Three minutes later Flamengo were ahead as a corner was headed down by Bruno Henrique and former Real Madrid, Manchester City and Juventus defender Danilo converted.Jackson then saw red for raking his studs into the shin of Ayrton Lucas leaving Chelsea to finish the game a man short.Enzo Fernandez was not far away from equalising, but then Flamengo wrapped up the win seven minutes from time as a Plata shot struck Wallace Yan and the ball fell kindly for the substitute to fire in.

Flamengo's Brazilian forward #27 Bruno Henrique (unseen) celebrates with a teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group D football match between Brazil's CR Flamengo and England's Chelsea at the Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia on June 20, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31598350/related

Chelsea fall to Flamengo in another upset for South America at CWC

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano admitted he is surprised at Lionel Messi's desire to win afte...

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano admitted he is surprised at Lionel Messi's desire to win after the MLS side shocked Porto at the Club World Cup on Thursday.Veteran playmaker Messi curled home a fine free-kick in a man-of-the-match performance at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the winning goal in Miami's 2-1 Group A victory over their Portuguese opponents.Mascherano said his Argentine compatriot's competitive spirit at 37 was more surprising to him than the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's quality.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Beyond his goal... he's a player who shows us how to compete, his hunger, his desire to continue competing at whatever level it is," Mascherano told reporters."In a footballing sense, what else is there to say? He's the best player that has played this sport in its history, but what is surprising is his will to win."Today, even in the last minutes, tired, with a knock, he kept helping the team in any way he could, in attack, in defence, to get the result..."We know having him gives us an advantage, but above all, through his contagious spirit, the winning spirit that he has."Many expected Porto to beat Inter Miami but the American side recorded a first ever victory in a competitive match for an MLS team against European opposition and the first shock at the Club World Cup."I think that we understood that in football there are obviously hierarchies, and we were facing against a team at a high level, with international players," said Mascherano."But we were convinced that if we did what we had to do, if we had a plan, if we supported each other, if we were together, but above all, if we dared to play, we could compete."Samu Aghehowa netted a first-half penalty for Porto but Telasco Segovia and Messi's strikes after the break earned Inter Miami victory which puts them level on four points with Palmeiras at the top of the group."What I told them (at half-time) was... to raise their spirits, because we had clearly showed we could compete, and that we had reached a moment where I didn't care about the result," added Mascherano."What I was interested in was showing we were capable of playing with and without the ball, and they understood, they picked themselves up and in the end it was a great afternoon for us."

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 19: Lionel Messi of Inter Miami celebrates at full-time with coach Javier Mascherano following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Internacional CF Miami and FC Porto at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 19, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31591562/related

Mascherano: Messi's unrelenting desire to win 'surprising'

A Lionel Messi trademark free-kick earned Inter Miami a shock 2-1 comeback win against Porto in t...

A Lionel Messi trademark free-kick earned Inter Miami a shock 2-1 comeback win against Porto in the Club World Cup on Thursday.The Argentine superstar found the top corner with a second half set-piece to clinch a surprise victory for the MLS side and give them a strong chance of progressing from Group A.Inter Miami and Palmeiras have four points each, after the Brazilian side beat Al Ahly 2-0 earlier on -- the Egyptians like Porto have one point.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Samu Aghehowa's early penalty gave the Portuguese side the lead as they had the better of the first half and could have scored more.However Telasco Segovia blasted Miami level and then Messi's free-kick helped them claim a noteworthy scalp, in a match many thought would be straightforward for Porto.Co-owned by former England international David Beckham, Inter Miami played their first MLS match in 2020 and signed Messi in 2023, raising their profile significantly.This was the first competitive victory for an MLS side over European opposition, in their second encounter after Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC earlier in the week."It's a huge joy, the whole team made a big effort, we worked really well," Messi told DAZN."It's a really important win for us and we have to enjoy it..."You can see that we want to compete, and today we competed against a really good European team... we knew that today we were weaker, but we had our strengths."Even with Messi, arguably the face of the tournament, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was under half-full at kick-off, hamstrung by another 3:00 pm kick-off on a working day as it was for Chelsea's opener at the venue.More fans entered throughout the game, keen to get a glimpse of the 37-year-old widely considered to be the game's greatest ever player, with nearly 32,000 present in the end.Messi did not disappoint and was the game's outstanding player, involved heavily from the off.The former Barcelona great clipped a dipping ball in behind for veteran striker Luis Suarez, who could only prod it at the goalkeeper.Porto took the lead in the eighth minute after being awarded a soft penalty after a VAR review, as Miami defender Noah Allen made light contact with Joao Mario in the box.Spain international Samu Aghehowa beat Oscar Ustari, who had saved a penalty in the goalless draw against Al Ahly, even though the stopper got a hand to his low effort. Uruguayan striker Suarez, 38, might have levelled after Messi threaded him through on goal but, forced to use his weaker left foot, Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos denied him.Javier Mascherano's side almost levelled through US international Benjamin Cremaschi after a charge forward from Suarez broke open Porto's defence, but Ramos made a smart near post stop to thwart him.Maximiliano Falcon brilliantly headed off his own goal-line with Ustari beaten by Rodrigo Mora's effort to keep Inter Miami hopes alive.Ustari denied Aghehowa and then scrambled the ball to safety as it rolled towards his net after Alan Varela crashed a shot off the upright and it hit him on the back, as Porto turned the screw before the break.<h3>'Clutch moment'</h3>Inter Miami levelled right at the start of the second half, with Segovia blasting home Marcelo Weigandt's inviting cut-back to stun the Portuguese side.Messi then sent Miami ahead with a goal all of his own making after 54 minutes.The playmaker was brought down outside the area and dusted himself down before arrowing a classic Messi free-kick into the top right corner."(Messi) is a leader, he's the player he is, he's the greatest player in the world," Inter Miami forward Fafa Picault told DAZN."I had a feeling (the free-kick) was going in. That was a great goal, a great show of leadership and coming in a clutch moment for us."Miami battled hard to keep Porto at bay and groans travelled around the stadium after seven minutes of stoppage time was announced.Mascherano's players thew themselves in the way of shots in a way the former Argentine defensive midfielder would have done himself, and Inter Miami were eventually able to claim their much-craved victory.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 19: Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF celebrates scoring their second goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Internacional CF Miami and FC Porto at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 19, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31591259/related

Messi's golazo lifts Inter Miami to comeback win over Porto in CWC

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said Lionel Messi would be fit to face Porto at the Club Worl...

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said Lionel Messi would be fit to face Porto at the Club World Cup on Thursday, despite showing signs of discomfort in training.A video emerged of Messi touching his left leg during the session on Wednesday, but Mascherano confirmed the veteran forward was ready for Miami's second Group A match in Atlanta."On the trip from Miami to Atlanta I saw that came out in some places, but Leo is fit, he trained, he completed the whole session," Mascherano told reporters.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"He was touching his leg, sometimes people touch themselves, but there's no problem, he's fit and obviously he will play tomorrow."The coach said Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba was available after missing the opening 0-0 draw against Al Ahly due to injury."We'll evaluate what's best for us, if he starts or not," said the coach. "Actually, I already know but I won't tell you." Mascherano meanwhile said retaining possession would be the key against Portugal's Porto, regular Champions League participants who are likely to provide the MLS team with a stern test."We have players who feel much more comfortable when they're in possession, dominating, and having control of the game through the ball," said the Argentine."Of course, we're facing a team that also is used to doing that, who are a high level side."But on the pitch we're 11 against 11, we'll try to shut down their strengths, expose their weaknesses and try to have a great game to get a good result."Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets, a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning side and one of Messi's former Barcelona team-mates, admitted his team would be up against it at the Mercedes-Benz stadium."They have very good players, they have reinforced and we know that it will be very difficult," Busquets told reporters."They are a team that compete every year for their league, against other great teams like Sporting and Benfica."We will try to be as solid as possible, stick close together and try to do the best we can as a team."If we get chances, we have the individuals (who can finish them), but above all we have to be solid and keep a clean sheet."

MIAMI, USA JUNE 15: Lionel Messi of Inter Miami gestures during the FIFA Club World Cup opening match between Al Ahly SC and Inter Miami CF at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, United States on June 15, 2025

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31584806/related

Messi declared fit for 2nd game of Miami's Club World Cup campaign

Federico Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty as Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi ...

Federico Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty as Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup on Wednesday.A large contingent of Real fans in a crowd of 62,415 at the Hard Rock Stadium were left frustrated after new manager Xabi Alonso's first game in charged ended with the points shared.For the Saudi club, with Italian Simone Inzaghi also making his debut on the bench, it was an impressive performance where they caused Real's defence plenty of problems before securing a hugely encouraging surprise result.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Al-Hilal started off in effervescent fashion and went close in the 19th minute when Salem Aldawsari volleyed back in to the box and Marcos Leonardo's effort flew just wide.Renan Lodi had the ball in the net for the Saudi side but the effort was ruled out for offside from another dangerous break Aldawsari showed his pace but dragged his shot just wide.Real gradually gained more control over the game and Rodrygo went close in the 31st minute when he cut in from the right and his left-foot effort zipped just over the bar.But Real's quality was starting to shine through and they grabbed the lead in the 34th minute.Gonzalo, starting in place of the absent Kylian Mbappe, started the break from deep and a clever exchange of passes concluded with Rodrygo drilling a low ball into the box where Gonzalo, who had continued his run, provided a delicate finish.It was a classic counter-attacking goal but it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the Saudi side who continued to press forward with energy.Four minutes before the break, they drew level when Raul Asencio was ruled to have pulled down Marcos Leonardo and Portugal international Ruben Neves calmly tucked away the penalty.The dangerous Aldawsari, who scored the winner for Saudi Arabia in their upset win over Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar, threatened again just before the break.But Real came out strongly after the interval with Arda Guler introduced at the break rattling the bar with a volley from a Vinicius Jr. cross.Moments later, Gonzalo brought a fine save out of Yassine Bounou with a firm header from a Vinicius crosss and then Valverde flashed a shot wide from 25 yards out.Having survived that storm from Real, Al-Hilal began to creep back into the game and ask some questions again of the Real defence.But with three minutes of normal time remaining Real were handed the chance to take all three points when Mohammed Al Qahtani was ruled to have put his hand in the face of Fran Garcia as he tried to hold off the challenge of the Real left-back.But Valverde's shot was saved by the diving Bounou to give the Saudi team a point after a hugely creditable performance.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JUNE 18: Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Real Madrid C. F., leaves the pitch following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid CF and Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium on June 18, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31583757/related

Real Madrid's Alonso era off to disappointing start with Al-Hilal draw

Real Madrid were without striker Kylian Mbappe for their Club World Cup opener against Saudi Pro ...

Real Madrid were without striker Kylian Mbappe for their Club World Cup opener against Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal on Wednesday after the Frenchman missed training due to illness.New head coach Xabi Alonso will make his debut on the Real bench for the Group H match at Hard Rock Stadium without several regulars.Defender Antonio Rudiger and the versatile Eduardo Camavinga also missed out against the Saudi team.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Kylian was feeling a little better this morning, but not enough. It’s very hot and it was better that he didn't train. But we will wait until the last moment. Tomorrow morning we will decide," Alonso said Tuesday."Rudiger made a brutal effort this season and I don't know if he will be called up tomorrow, but he is progressing well and will be the first to return. Camavinga is also improving quickly, but he needs time," he added.Al-Hilal will also have a new coach on the bench with Italian Simone Inzaghi having joined after leading Inter Milan to the Champions League final.Alonso said the change of coach means that it is difficult to know what to expect from Wednesday's opponents."We have to prepare for the game in the best possible way. They will be a tough opponent, without a doubt. But it's time to focus on ourselves. They haven't made their debut with Inzaghi yet, so we don't know how they will play."We have to have hunger to win, to compete, to want to play well. We have to mix a lot of things, but that self-love, that feeling of team, that defending the badge… The team already has it, but we have to work on it. We must be a team," he said.Alonso was asked about the right-back position where Dani Carvajal faces competition from new arrival Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has joined from Liverpool."It is a privilege to have such top players. Trent is more flexible in positions, but Carva has a lot of personality and competitiveness. The initial impact of Trent has been very good."Alexander-Arnold was picked in the starting lineup to face Al-Hilal. The rest of the back-four consisted of Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, and Fran Garcia.Alonso was quizzed for his opinions on several players and unsurprisingly was upbeat about his squad, suggesting that England's Jude Bellingham may be more effective in a central midfield role than in the more advanced position he has sometimes operated in."Jude has the ability to cover a lot of the pitch. He has the soul of a midfielder, he likes to participate, but he has the great quality to arrive. The important thing is the starting point. Finding him in the right places is going to help us because he has impressive qualities," he said.Alonso will get a brief spell to enjoy working with Croatian midfielder Luka Modric before the 39-year-old leaves the club."It's easy with him. We always had a great relationship, friends and now coach-player. I like his relationship with the younger ones, he is a very good influence. We want to enjoy him in these weeks. He’s a player of the era, being able to squeeze him a little more will be a luxury," he said.

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - JUNE 15: Kylian Mbappe player of Real Madrid is training on June 15, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31575422/related

Mbappe misses Madrid's Club World Cup opener with illness

Phil Foden scored inside two minutes to set Manchester City on the way to a comfortable 2-0 win a...

Phil Foden scored inside two minutes to set Manchester City on the way to a comfortable 2-0 win against Wydad Casablanca in their opening match at the Club World Cup on Wednesday.Jeremy Doku was also on target before half-time at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, where the majority of the 37,446 crowd were supporting City but most of the noise was made by the fans of the Moroccan side.The afternoon was slightly marred for City as Rico Lewis was sent off for a dangerous tackle late on, but Pep Guardiola was satisfied with the winning start.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"It is so hot. The humidity is not easy. We had good moments, many new players. The first game in this group stage is always really, really important. I saw many, many good things," Guardiola said.City have come to the Club World Cup eager to turn the page after a disappointing season.Tougher tests await than that provided by the team that finished third in the Moroccan league, with the English club next facing Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates before completing Group G against Juventus.Guardiola used this occasion to field an experimental line-up, with new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki making debuts while teenage defender Vitor Reis started for just the third time since arriving in January."The first step is done, it is really important. Now we have recovery, we are going to train well in the next few days and then fresh legs for the next game to try to improve things," Guardiola added."We have a lot of new players, injured players back, and step by step we will get to the right tempo."This was always going to be a big ask for Wydad, whose coach Amine Benhachem was only appointed in the run-up to the Club World Cup.Their reinforcements for the tournament include a Brazilian defender signed on loan from the Portuguese second tier, a Dutch defender from the Bosnian league, and 38-year-old Moroccan international Nordin Amrabat."Before the game I told the players not to be afraid. That if we were going to lose we would lose our way," said Benhachem."Nobody likes to lose, but we showed good spirit and we have something to work on for the second match."France star Cherki was deployed in a floating central role for City close to Foden, and it was the England star who got the breakthrough in the second minute.Used sparingly in the final weeks of the Premier League campaign, Foden was perfectly placed to sweep home inside the box after goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid patted a Savinho centre into his path.Wydad, who qualified as a recent winner of the CAF Champions League, were not cowed and did have chances to give their passionate support something to celebrate.<h3>Cherki, Reijnders make debuts</h3>When Cherki gave the ball away cheaply, Thembinkosi Lorch produced an audacious attempt to beat Ederson from inside his own half, but the Brazilian goalkeeper made the save.Cassius Mailula then missed a fine opportunity after being set up by Lorch following a Reis error.Nathan Ake and Foden had chances for City before the latter set up the second goal in the 42nd minute as his corner from the right was headed in by Doku.Doku should then have done better after being left with just the goalkeeper to beat after pouncing on defensive hesitation early in the second half.There were no more goals, but Guardiola made a raft of substitutions as the second half advanced, including withdrawing Cherki, Doku and Foden on the hour as Rodri and Erling Haaland came on.They could come into the starting line-up against Al Ain in Atlanta on Sunday, but Lewis will not feature.The 20-year-old right-back was shown a red card on 88 minutes after catching Wydad substitute Samuel Obeng high with his studs."Rico never had any intention to hurt anyone with his style of play," Guardiola complained."It was a little bit unnecessary to be honest but the referee had his opinion, he is the boss, and the VAR checked it, so we accept it."

Manchester City's English midfielder #47 Phil Foden (2ndL) is congratulated by teammates after scoring the opening goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group G football match between England's Manchester City and Morocco's Wydad AC at the Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia on June 18, 2025.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31582292/related

Man City ease into Club World Cup campaign with win over Wydad

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/agence-france-presse/content_cards