2023-12-19 23:00:02
Bernardo Silva décisif face à Urawa Red Diamonds. REUTERS / AMR ABDALLAH DALSH / REUTERS / AMR ABDALLAH DALSH
Without the slightest problem, Pep Guardiola’s Citizens dominated the Japanese Urawa Red Diamonds (3-0) this Tuesday, in the semi-final of the Club World Cup in Jeddah.
TOPS
The very serious Skyblues
Big favorite to win the Club World Cup, Manchester City left the Urawa Red Diamonds (3-0) no chance this Tuesday evening in the semi-final. From the start, the shadow of a possible trap was swept aside by Pep Guardiola’s players, very concentrated and sharp offensively. Even without Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, injured and in the stands, the Mancunian attack found the solutions. Jack Grealish increased the percussion, Phil Foden broke lines while Rodri was content to control the tempo of the meeting at a slow trot. The big difference in level between the two teams was expected, City took care to respect it for 90 minutes.
Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes, Portuguese at the party
Always valuable and available in the midfield, Bernardo Silva delivered a convincing performance with the third Citizen goal scored just before the hour mark. The former Monegasque took care of his statistics by taking advantage of a shot pushed back from his compatriot Matheus Nunes. Preferred over Julian Alvarez, the Portuguese was also decisive by collapsing Urawa’s defense just before half-time. After a first goal on target, the player recruited from Wolverhampton pushed Hoibraaten to score against his side thanks to a vicious cross to open the scoring. The only regret as far as he is concerned is that Nunes could (should) have scored his goal in the second half but he missed a rather easy header from close range. For the rest, he fulfilled his contract like the Mancunian collective.
FLOPS
The Red Diamonds did not exist
Qualified for the semi-final thanks to its victory against the Mexicans de Leon (1-0) in the quarter, Urawa perhaps dreamed of an exploit this evening against the reigning European champions. But the step was much too high for the Japanese team, willing but never in a position to give suspense to this match. In 90 minutes, she only shot once on goal following a Mancunian restart error. For the rest, the Rouge et Noir, unsurprisingly limited, did not see the ball and suffered defensively. It remains to be seen whether Fluminense, in the final on Friday (7 p.m.), will be able to further worry the Citizens while the Red Diamonds will challenge the Egyptians of Al Ahly to finish in 3rd place.
Ederson, technical unemployment can put you to sleep
If we have to look for the little beast in City’s performance, let’s say that the Brazilian goalkeeper could have avoided a few cold sweats. Never worried before the 80th minute by the opposing attack, the Skyblues goalkeeper, on the other hand, scared himself, almost alone, on two occasions. Once at the start of the game when Kante almost stole the ball from him when pressing. And a second time at 3-0, when John Stones weakly asked for it from behind. Casually, Ederson was this time beaten by Kante, who then missed his pass from six meters. Clumsiness without consequence for the defense of the Skyblues and their goalkeeper, struggling to stay focused in a meeting that was undoubtedly too quiet.
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