The 19-year-old scored his first goal for the club, bagging a world-class free kick as City beat Al Ain with ease
Sunday was an night to remember for Manchester City's Claudio Echeverri, as the 19-year-old Argentine starlet stole the show in his side's dominant 6-0 win over Al Ain at the Club World Cup.
Echeverri, formerly of River Plate, was handed his first City start by Pep Guardiola in Atlanta, and he responded in style, seizing the moment to help secure all three points and book their spot in the knockout rounds.
Veteran midfielder Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring just eight minutes in, dinking a cheeky chip across the box and over the goalkeeper into the side of the net. Then the Echeverri show began. The teenager stepped up from a dead-ball attempt on the right side of the box in the 27th minute, delivering a scintillating shot with his right boot into the top-right corner.
Just before half-time, City added a third as Erling Haaland opened his tournament account from the penalty spot, but they were made to wait until 17 minutes from time for their fourth goal of the evening as Gundogan netted again. Substitutes Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki rounded out the game with strikes of their own to ensure City go into their final group match with Juventus level on goal difference as the two sides vie for top spot in Group G.
GOAL rates Manchester City's players from Mercedes-Benz Stadium…
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Stefan Ortega (6/10):
Good on the ball, but rarely tested. Often wandered out of his box to play a sweeper role, helping keep the tempo of the match.
Abdukodir Khusanov (6/10):
Subbed off midway through the second half after a solid performance. He didn't put a foot wrong and offered a tidy passing outlet out of the back.
Manuel Akanji (7/10):
Lights out defensively, he really impressed in the back-three while leading City by playing out of the back.
Josko Gvardiol (7/10):
Defensively sound all match, and pushed forward to help progress the ball when needed. A well-rounded showing.
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Matheus Nunes (6/10):
A quiet, uncontested match for the Portuguese midfielder, who was deployed as a wingback. Didn't impress, but didn't put a foot wrong, either.
Nico Gonzalez (7/10):
A decent performance in a single pivot role with Gundogan and Silva rotating above him. Closed down any counters, and was the midfield controller in the center of the park.
Ilkay Gundogan (9/10):
His first brace for City since the 2023 season, it was a brilliant performance from the Germany international. He read the opposition well and operated in the midfield smoothly. Well done.
Rayan Ait Nouri (7/10):
Really solid first start for City since his transfer from Wolves. Put his tidy footwork on display in the final-third and offered a sound defensive performance.
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Claudio Echeverri (9/10):
What a way to mark your first start for the club. Fantastic free kick, and overall, a really impressive first 45 minutes.
Erling Haaland (7/10):
Strong all match, but a few wasteful chances. He took his penalty well, but could have had a second if he was more clinical. A delightful late dummy to feed Cherki his first goal in City Blue.
Bernardo Silva (7/10):
So, so smooth on the ball. Ran the midfield show while intertwining with Gundogan, showing his class.
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Rayan Cherki (7/10):
Scored his first for City in a rather bright cameo off the bench. Tremendous interplay with Haaland for the strike.
Oscar Bobb (8/10):
His first goal back for City since sustaining a season-ending injury in August 2024, he looked electric on the flank while scoring their fifth of the night.
Phil Foden (6/10):
Subbed on at the half for Echeverri, but never made his mark on the match.
Rodri (7/10):
Brought on with 30 minutes to spare and secured an assist, offering some size and stability in the midfield as well.
Tijjani Reijnders (N/A):
He made a late cameo off the bench.
Ruben Dias (N/A):
Brought on late to help close out the match.
Pep Guardiola (8/10):
The City manager got it all right, including the surprising start for Echeverri. Great substitution patterns, as both Bobb and Cherki found the back of the net, while defensively they were tight and composed. He will be thrilled they met Juventus's goal differential with two late scores.
