By GhanaNewsPage 
Manchester City began their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a strong 2–0 victory over Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 18, 2025.
Despite playing the final minutes with ten men, Pep Guardiola’s side demonstrated their quality, tactical discipline, and squad depth, as they comfortably controlled the match from start to finish.
City lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Ederson in goal, protected by a back four consisting of Nathan Aké, Vitor Reis, Rico Lewis, and Nico O’Reilly. Tijjani Reijnders, making his debut, operated as the lone holding midfielder, while the advanced midfield line included Jérémy Doku, Phil Foden, Savinho, and Rayan Cherki. Up front, Erling Haaland led the line, though the Norwegian striker would later be substituted in the second half. Wydad Casablanca, on the other hand, set up with a more defensive 5-4-1 structure. Mehdi Benabid started in goal for the Moroccan side, with a defense marshaled by Bart Meijers and Guilherme. The midfield featured Nordin Amrabat, Oussama Zemraoui, El Mehdi El Moubarik, and Thembinkosi Lorch, while forward duties were assigned to Cassius Mailula.
Manchester City started the match with high intensity, and they found the breakthrough just two minutes into the game. A cross from Savinho was poorly handled by Wydad goalkeeper Benabid, who spilled the ball into the path of Phil Foden. Foden reacted quickly and slotted the ball into the net from the center of the box, giving City an early 1–0 lead. The goal highlighted Foden’s sharp instincts and calm composure under pressure, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
As the game progressed, City maintained control of possession, pressing Wydad high and creating several chances. The Moroccan side occasionally responded with counter-attacks, with Mailula testing Ederson with a clever lob in the 15th minute, but City’s defensive organization prevented any real threat. In the 42nd minute, City doubled their lead through Jérémy Doku. After winning a corner, Phil Foden delivered a perfectly placed ball into the box, which Doku met with a volley at the far post to make it 2–0. The timing of the goal just before halftime dealt a significant blow to Wydad’s hopes of a comeback and capped off a dominant first-half display by Guardiola’s men.
In the second half, City managed the game with controlled possession, limiting Wydad’s attacking opportunities. Guardiola made several substitutions, introducing Rodri and Gündogan to maintain control in midfield, and giving Rayan Cherki and Reijnders more time to settle into their debut appearances. The match, however, took a late turn when Rico Lewis received a straight red card in the 88th minute for a studs-up challenge on Samuel Obeng. Despite being reduced to ten men, Manchester City held their ground and preserved their clean sheet.
Phil Foden was named the player of the match for his overall performance. He scored the opening goal, assisted the second, and controlled the attacking tempo throughout the game. Jérémy Doku also impressed, not only for his goal but also for his movement and energy on the wing. Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki showed promise in their first competitive appearances for City, hinting at their potential impact in the matches to come.
Wydad, although well-organized defensively, struggled to create meaningful chances. Their physicality and structure helped limit City’s goal tally, but they lacked the attacking firepower to mount a real challenge. Coach Adel Ramzi will look to regroup his squad for their next match, where they must secure a win to stay alive in the competition.
This win gives Manchester City a strong start in Group G, where they will face Al-Ain next. With the depth and quality of their squad on full display, City are clearly among the favorites for the Club World Cup title. Wydad Casablanca, meanwhile, must focus on their next game against Juventus and seek a response to keep their campaign alive.
