Juventus vs Manchester City Prediction: Two Betting Tips, Team News & More

In a Club World Cup group stage littered by one sided ties, Thursday evening sees two of the competitions’ elite sides clash in a battle for top spot in Group G.

The team who finish second will most likely face a last 16 meeting with Real Madrid on a side of the draw also containing Bayern Munich and European champions PSG and so with both looking to avoid that match-up, we should get an entertaining game with plenty at stake.

Juventus vs Manchester City Tips

Juventus only finishing fourth in the Serie A table this season will no doubt have many expecting a routine Man City victory, however, their failure to compete for the title in Italy only tells half the story. Since Igor Tudor was appointed in late March, the Turin side have lost just one of his 11 games in charge and have been a much tougher side to beat. Their opening games in this competition have seen them win comfortably 4-1 and 5-0 - results that go one goal better than Pep Guardiola’s side against the same opponents and so City being such heavy favourites feels excessive.

City are in decent form of their own, winning their last four games in a row and matching Juve’s record of one loss since March. However, with new recruits Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders set to start, there’s every chance they’re a little more disjointed than usual as Pep searches for the new tactical formula that will see them back in the mix for the Premier League title next season. We have two teams who are incredibly difficult to beat and so to be getting odds against about Juventus avoiding a loss and therefore topping the group feels a touch too big when they’re the more settled line-up.

The battle between Rayan Ait-Nouri and Francisco Conceicao down Juventus’ right-hand side could go a long way to deciding which side comes out on top. Conceicao is one of the most fouled players in Italy drawing 2.24 infringements per 90 in domestic action this season and has so far drawn six fouls in 163 minutes of Club World Cup action. Of particular interest is that left-sided players have collected nine cards against Juventus across their last 12 matches in all competitions, many of which have been for persistent fouls on the Portugese winger.

Ait-Nouri is no stranger to drawing the attention of the officials, having been carded seven times in both of his last two seasons at Wolves. The Algerian will have far fewer defensive duties for his new club, however, with his manager favouring a tactical foul to avoid falling victim to counter-attacks, he’ll be instructed to bring his opposing winger down as early as possible when City lose the ball. Ait-Nouri’s overlapping runs from full back only make him more likely to be out of position and with direct opposition who draw plenty of cards, he looks a prime candidate for a booking at a lovely price.  

Juventus vs Manchester City Team News

Rico Lewis is unavailable for Man City and Claudio Echeverri is unlikely to feature due to injury.

The lineups for Juventus vs Manchester City will be displayed below approximately one hour before kick-off.