In the room of 120 minutes of football on Monday, the club world became a lot more interesting.
Manchester City was overwhelming favorites to continue to the quarterfinals of the competition at the expense of Saudi giants, Al-Hilal, but despite dominating the most facets of playing, the Premier League outfit showed their Achilles again and were put on the sword after extra time.
Inzaghi finally gets better from Guardiola
It is the first time in the last three meetings that Simone Inzaghi has improved Pep Guardiola, the two previous matches between the coaches who see a 0-0 draw in the Champions League 2024/25 and a 1-0 win for Man City vs Inter Milan in the UCL final of 2023.
Because Inter also loses their round of 16 match against Fluminense, it delivered a quarterfinals that no one could have predicted.
When Bernardo Silva set up his side for nine minutes, it would have been expected that the locks would open quickly.
It was the fourth goal of the city in the opening quarter of competitions on the CWC – no one has – and their record in the competition after opening the score was W3 D0 L0.
Moreover, they had seen 71.9% of the ball and had left the players of Al Hilal who chased shadows in those opening fairs.
Bounou in sensational form
Against the break, Yassine Bounou had already made five saves to hold the Saudi side with a fighting chance, although on the other hand only three shots – two off -target and one blocked – everything was that Hilal had to show for their efforts.
Within six minutes after the second half, the story was turned on his head, thanks to two goals from Marcos Leonardo and Malcom, the second coming courtiality of an incredible defense-splitting pass by Joao Ancanneo.
A trio of substitutions in response from Guardiola immediately had the desired effect, whereby Haaland only agreed two minutes later. Game on … again!
The two shots of Jeremy Doku on Doel Shortly thereafter were the proof that City was released again, with their 10 shots on goal tried on that point higher than their average of 9.3 in the CWC.
The promotion was all in the Al Hilal and the ruthless nature of the city's attacks – including 17 crosses within the first hour and 15 shots from Haaland, the joint highest total in the competition (next to Lautaro Martinez) – was an ominous sign for the Saudis.
Momentum shifts during the Man City vs Al Hilal Matchopta by Statistics Performing Statistics
However, Bounou was the same as everything that came his way and towards the end of 90 minutes an amazing 10 rescues had yielded.
Four minutes after extra time, Kalidou Koulibaly was in the right place at the right time to put Hilal forward again with one of only six chances that the Saudi side had on goal (compared to City's 14).
Enormous effort from Koulibaly
Koulibaly also needs a lot of honor for his defensive version, his four tackles were the most player at night. As part of a back-to-the-wall, it was huge.
Nevertheless, City kept coming with Ruben Dias and made 135 steps, easily the most in the game, in a total of 827. A different reward arrived thanks to Phil Foden – the fifth goal of one of the city components in the competition – and we were all square again with just over 15 minutes to play.
Kalidou Koulibaly Heat Map vs Man CityOpta perform by statistics
The same pattern went on and although they were still being held, the charges of Guardiola were a feast for the eyes thanks to their collective 92.3% passing accuracy. The 98.2% of Manuel Akanji was the best individual stat, although eight of the starting XI of City were all in the mid -90s in terms of their death.
As an exercise in control and balmanipulation it was unparalleled.
Unfortunately it counted for nothing, because Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's gunshot was deported directly into the path of Marcos Leonardo to make the four for Al Hilal, the fourth of the player's tournament and for which he was immediately booked after excessive parties.
Man City vs Al Hilal Match Statsopta perform by statistics
With the time that Savinho and Jeremy Doku continued to investigate, and 19 crosses between them and 10 of the 30 total shots of the city show that if an attacking pair came in from the wings, they could not have done much to get their side above the line.
As it was, Hilal was already firm to win 56 of their one-on-one duels and 48 interceptions. The 11 clearance of Koulibaly, nine duels and seven interceptions definitely won a mention in what became an all-action version of the 34-year-old veteran.
Back to the drawing table for Pep
The way Man City had set all newcomers aside before it was already Hilal loss that they were a team of blasting, but again, when they are confronted with a side that can absorb the pressure and toe to toe with them in the physical exchanges, they are found that they want.
For Pep and his team it is back to the drawing table …