In the semi-final of the World Championship Cup, Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds will face last season's Europa League champion Manchester City. Although there is a certain gap between the two teams in terms of strength, City's recent form has been sluggish, and the players are physically and mentally exhausted from the consecutive matches between England and Saudi Arabia, which may affect their performance. The match is likely to be slow-paced in the early stages, with slim chances in the 1.5-goal halves perhaps becoming the focus of attention. (Live on ViuTV 99 at 2am on Wednesday!)
Manchester City traveled to Saudi Arabia on a long-haul flight immediately after last weekend's Premier League match to prepare for tonight's WCF Champions League match. This not only poses a challenge to the team's physical and mental state, but is also a common dilemma for European teams in the history of the World Champions Cup. According to statistics, in the last 8 WCF Champions League semi-finals, there are 7 times when the total number of goals scored by European teams in the half time is not more than 1 goal. Expect City to respond cautiously in the first half before seeking a breakthrough in the second half.
In fact, Man City's recent form is not optimistic, with only 3 wins in the last 8 matches, including a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, which has demoralized the players. Norwegian striker Einin Harant may not be able to come back in time, coupled with the core player Chiyun Dibny's injury, the two pillars of City's offense are both absent, which is undoubtedly a huge blow to the team. It is expected that the manager, Gordiona, will adjust his tactics, not rushing to attack in the first half, and look for opportunities in the second half.
