Ilkay Gündogan scored twice as Manchester City swept aside Emirati outfit Al-Ain 6–0 on Sunday to advance to the knockout stage of the Club World Cup from Group G, joining Juventus in the next round.

The German midfielder found the net in the 9th and 73rd minutes, while Argentine teenager Claudio Echeverri struck a superb free-kick and Erling Haaland converted a penalty before half-time. Substitutes Oscar Bobb and new signing Rayan Cherki completed the rout with two late goals, putting City level on goal difference with Juventus, who had earlier defeated Wydad Casablanca 4–1.

City will face Juventus in their final group match in Orlando on Thursday, with the winner progressing to the round of 16 as Group G leaders.

“A really good performance,” Gündogan said post-match. “I think we had our moments in the first half, and then also the second part of the second half. The result speaks for itself and, in the end, was fully deserved.”

Manager Pep Guardiola demonstrated the depth of his squad by making 11 changes to the starting line-up. Gündogan capitalised on his opportunity, opening the scoring with a chipped cross that floated over Al-Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa and into the net.

Although Al-Ain showed more ambition than in their 5–0 loss to Juventus, they were ultimately outclassed. Winger Nassim Chadli nearly equalised in the 15th minute, only for City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega Moreno to turn the ball wide.

Echeverri, making his first start for City, doubled the advantage in the 27th minute with a beautifully curled free-kick around a poorly positioned defensive wall, leaving Eisa rooted to the spot.

Haaland nearly added a third shortly after, having dispossessed the last defender, but his attempt drifted wide after he pushed the ball too far wide of goal. He went close again in the 41st minute, this time angling his shot narrowly past the far post.

However, the Norwegian striker was not to be denied a third time. In first-half stoppage time, he confidently dispatched a penalty into the bottom right corner—his 32nd goal of the season—after Egyptian defender Ramy Rabia had hauled Manuel Akanji to the ground during a corner, with VAR alerting the referee to the foul.

City continued to dominate after the break. Forward Matheus Nunes swivelled and fired just wide shortly after the hour mark, before Eisa made two quick saves to deny Haaland from close range.

Chadli had another chance in the 69th minute but blazed his effort over the bar. Moments later, Gündogan dashed any hopes of an Al-Ain comeback with his second of the evening. Bernardo Silva weaved across the edge of the area and fired in a precise pass to the penalty spot, which Gündogan controlled brilliantly before lifting the ball over the onrushing Eisa.

Bobb added City’s fifth with eight minutes remaining, cutting inside onto his left foot and finishing at the near post. Cherki wrapped up the scoring with a composed strike from the edge of the box, confirming a comprehensive win for the reigning European champions.