Urawa Red Diamonds vs Manchester City Predictions

• Eleven of Manchester City’s last 13 games have featured more than two goals
• Pep Guardiola’s side have scored at least twice in 12 of their last 15 matches
• Urawa Red Diamonds have won three of their last ten games

Guardiola’s side should be fully focused

Pep Guardiola will have had plenty of time on the flight to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup to think about how Manchester City can drag themselves back up the Premier League table following the champions latest slip-up.

Crystal Palace were allowed to come from two goals down to earn a point at the Etihad on Saturday and City have work to do after Christmas from fourth in the table.

But this competition should provide a neat, pre-festive distraction with the last ten competitions having been won by the European entrants and Guardiola, who has won it three times himself, insists City will be going all out to get the job done.

That spells bad news for Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, who earned their shot at the treble winners by beating Mexican side Leon 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

They are a side whose prowess revolves around a strong defence – they conceded 27 goals in 34 J-League games in the season they have just completed – and they may not have the firepower to trouble City greatly.

City still possess plenty in attack

Even with the likely exclusion of injured Erling Haaland, the same could not be said of City’s striking ability.

They have failed to score at least twice in just three of their last 15 games and despite a few domestic wobbles, they eased through the Champions League group stage.

With the criticism regarding Saturday’s result ringing in their ears, they are unlikely to take things easy, so expect them to progress to the final with a comfortable, maybe 3-0, success.