Manchester City v Urawa Reds LIVE: Latest updates from Club World Cup semi-final
Man City faced with frustrating form irony just as they look to win crown of world’s best team
Manchester City have often been described as the best team in the world. The penultimate step to officially claiming that title falls on the 25th anniversary of a historic low. On 19 December 1998, City lost 2-1 to York: their fifth consecutive league game without a win left them 12th in the old Division 2, rendering them the 56th-best team in England. On 19 December 2023, they face Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-final of the Club World Cup. Win then and only Fluminense stand in their way in Friday’s final.
“Years ago we could not imagine to be there and we are there,” said Pep Guardiola. “I’m very pleased and excited to go there to try and win it.” It has been a remarkable rise, albeit one facilitated by about £2bn of investment from Sheikh Mansour and one clouded by 115 Premier League charges. But now, a quarter of a century after City were 15 points behind Walsall, City have one of the greatest managers in history and a treble only previously achieved by Manchester United in a season when their neighbours were a third-tier club.
Now they arrive in Saudi Arabia as favourites to retain both the Premier League and the Champions League. And yet, for a club on the brink of adding a fifth trophy of 2023 and an achievement that would symbolise a time of dominance, at something of a low.
Read Richard Jolly’s full take on Man City’s Club World Cup bid:
Man City faced with form irony as they look to win crown of world’s best team
Pep Guardiola’s team head for the Club World Cup semis on Tuesday and could be crowned the game’s finest side on Friday
Manchester City team news
Here’s the City line-up for this evening. No Haaland, De Bruyne or Doku as they continue to battle injury but a strong starting XI named by Pep.
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Manchester City predictions: Club World Cup tips, odds and free bets
Manchester City will kick off their 2023 Club World Cup campaign with a clash against Urawa Red Diamonds.
Cityzens boss Pep Guardiola has won the competition three times before as a manager, although not with City, and can win it for a fourth time in Saudi Arabia.
Urawa Red Diamonds knocked out Concacaf Champions League winners Leon in the last round to make the final four where they will come up against City.
Football betting sites have priced Guardiola’s team as strong favourites, but there will be an element of the unknown to this fixture. Can the Japanese side pull off a shock?
Here are three betting tips ahead of the clash:
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Manchester City predictions: Club World Cup tips, odds and free bets
City’s quest for a fifth trophy in 2023 has taken them to Saudi Arabia and we’ve got three tips for their clash with Urawa
Manchester City early team news
City are waiting on the fitness of striker Erling Haaland, who has missed the last three games with a foot injury – including Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku have travelled with the squad as they near returns from injury but are unlikely to play. Guardiola is expected to make several changes from Saturday’s team and ahead of a potential final on Friday.
Predicted Manchester City line-up
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Akanji, Lewis; Rodri, Kovacic; Bobb, Silva, Grealish; Alvarez
When is Manchester City vs Urawa Reds and how can I watch it?
When is Manchester City vs Urawa Reds?
The match will kick off at 6pm GMT on Tuesday 19 December at the King Abdullah Sports City, Saudi Arabia.
How can I watch it?
The Club World Cup is being shown on TNT Sports in the UK and Manchester City’s semi-final will be live on TNT Sports 2. TNT Sports subscribers can also stream the action live on Discovery+.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Is Man City v Urawa Reds on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch Club World Cup
Manchester City head to the Club World Cup looking to add another trophy to their collection under Pep Guardiola as the treble winners face Japanese side and Asian champions Urawa Reds in Saudi Arabia tonight.
City won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last season to qualify for the Club World Cup as European champions for the first time, and Guardiola’s side are strong favourites to win the competition.
Brazilian side and South American champions Fluminense await in Friday’s final after beating Al Ahly but Guardiola has insisted that City face a “difficult” task as they look to put their recent Premier League struggles behind them.
The champions have won just one of their last six games and Guardiola said: “It’s the first time Man City are here. That shows how difficult it is. We won’t take it for granted. We take it as a privilege. Of course we want to win it. It is a trophy we don’t have. We want to close a little circle, that we have won all the trophies we could do. This is the last one. I don’t know if we’ll have another chance. Maybe it is a once in a lifetime. It is difficult to be here.”
Here’s everything you need to know:
Is Man City v Urawa Reds on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch
Manchester City are playing at the Club World Cup for the first time and head straight into semi-final action
Manchester City vs Urawa Red Diamonds
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Manchester City vs Urawa Red Diamonds this evening.
City are on a midweek jaunt to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup and victory in this semi-final would see them face Fluminese in Friday’s final.
Stick with us for full live coverage.
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