Manchester City vs Al Ain SCC Predictions

• Under 3.5 goals has landed in eight of Manchester City’s last nine matches.
• Under 3.5 goals has landed in seven of Al Ain’s last nine games.
• Manchester City have won 2-0 in four of their last nine outings.

Routine victory on the cards for the Citizens

Manchester City secured a comfortable, if unspectacular, 2-0 win over Wydad in their FIFA Club World Cup opener, and a similar result could be on the cards against Al Ain in Atlanta.

Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku gave Pep Guardiola’s side a comfortable first-half lead, allowing the Citizens to ease off after the break as they limited their opponents to just two shots on target.

Al Ain suffered a heavy 5-0 loss at the hands of Juventus, but the scoreline flattered the Italian side, who scored five times from just seven shots on target and 1.4 expected goals.

The underdogs had conceded just one in their seven games before that, and while Manchester City are a step up in quality, another goalfest appears unlikely.

Eight of Manchester City’s last nine and seven of Al Ain’s last nine games have gone under 3.5 goals, and that looks the best bet in Atlanta on Monday.

The favourites should claim an easy three points, though, and a repeat of their 2-0 scoreline against Wydad – a scoreline they have achieved in four of their last nine games – looks good value in the correct score market.

Phil Foden took many of the plaudits against Wydad, but Jeremy Doku was a major threat throughout, generating a game-high 0.62 expected goals and having six touches in the opposition box. He looks an attractive anytime goalscorer option.