Manchester City - Al Ain (6-0): Rayan Cherki takes part in the Skyblues' offensive festival

Manchester City enjoyed a great victory against Al Ain, crushed 6-0 thanks in particular to a double from Ilkay Gundogan and the first goal from Rayan Cherki , and opened the way to the last 16 of the Club World Cup on Monday in Atlanta.

The stakes are set in Group G, as the Citizens' victory over the Emirati team also propels Juventus Turin into the next round. Manchester and Turin, tied on six points, will battle it out on Thursday in Orlando on the final day of the group for first place.

This duel will allow us to better assess City's state after a blank domestic and European season, a first since the 2016-2017 season, as Al Ain were too weak to put up any real resistance.

As with his debut in the tournament against Wydad Casablanca (2-0), Pep Guardiola decided to carry out a major squad review, this time starting several of his key players (Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Josko Gvardiol) and launching one of his star signings of the summer, the Algerian left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri.

This armada logically left no chance for Al-Ain, already thrashed by Juve (5-0).

Gundogan quickly started the Citizens' festival (6th) before being imitated by the young Argentinian Claudio Echeverri (19 years old) with a magnificent free kick (27th).

Haaland then opened his World Cup scoring with a penalty just before half-time (45th + 5) before a second cool goal from Gundogan, who could leave the club at the end of the competition (72nd), an unstoppable shot from Oscar Bobb (84th) and then a final goal from ex-Lyonnais Rayan Cherki, his first in the Skyblues colours (89th).

The French international started the match on the bench before coming on as a substitute for Bernardo Silva (74th minute).

However, it's difficult to judge the performance of City and its new players, given the glaring shortcomings Al Ain displayed. The first test of this World Cup for Guardiola's troops will take place on Thursday against Juve.