Manchester City vs Wydad AC predictions, betting tips and odds: Routine victory on the cards for Citizens

Where to watch Manchester City vs Wydad AC

You can watch Manchester City vs Wydad AC in the Club World Cup at 5pm on Wednesday, June 18, live on Channel 5 & DAZN

Manchester City vs Wydad AC prediction & best bets

Manchester City to win 3-0
1pt 9-2 general

Manchester City to win 4-0
1pt 11-2 BoyleSports, Paddy Power

Recommended Offer

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

Manchester City vs Wydad AC odds

Here are the latest odds ahead of Manchester City vs Wydad AC in the Club World Cup

Odds correct at time of publishing

While you’re betting on the Club World Cup, don’t miss your chance to claim £455 in Royal Ascot Day 3 offers – Racing Post has the best free bets in one place.

Manchester City vs Wydad AC predictions

Manchester City’s Club World Cup defence in its new extended format begins with a Group G showdown against Moroccan minnows Wydad AC, and it should be routine work for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Citizens fell way below the lofty expectations that they had set for themselves this season, failing to win a single piece of major silverware and finishing only third in the Premier League, 13 points adrift of runaway champions Liverpool.

However, City’s performances picked up dramatically as the season reached its conclusion and they ended the Premier League campaign unbeaten in ten, winning seven of those matches and keeping six clean sheets along the way.

Wydad AC, one of four African teams in the tournament, sealed their position by being crowned CAF Champions League winners in 2022. 

But there is no denying that this is a steep hike in grade for them against one of Europe’s elite and they may lack the quality to provide City any sort of test.

Instead, adopting defensive tactics and attempting to frustrate the opposition for large periods may be the approach taken by manager Amine Benhachem.

The North African outfit have had two recent friendlies encounters against European opposition in order to prepare for a group featuring games with City and Juventus, but they limped to 1-0 losses against Sevilla and Porto.

Wydad have since been beaten 2-0 by Union Touraga in a domestic cup quarter-final and winger Mohamed Rayhi was their only player to reach a double-figure goal tally as they finished third in the Botola Pro.

That highlights their lack of firepower and the recent arrival of former Hull and Watford midfielder Nordin Amrabat, now a veteran at 38 years of age, shows the gap in financial punch between them and City.

The Citizens have already been spending money this summer, bolstering their squad with the recent arrivals of Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush help form a pretty devastating attack, although this could be more of a disciplined display than a dazzling one.

City rarely run riot, having scored more than three goals in only one of their last 18 matches, and Guardiola may prefer to see a polished performance while protecting his players and growing into things in the knockout rounds. Forecast soaring temperatures would be another hindrance to an onslaught.

So, given Wydad severely lack attacking output and won't want to be on the end of a dismantling, splitting stakes on 3-0 and 4-0 wins for City could be the approach to take.

In winning the 2023 Club World Cup, City defeated Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 in the semi-final before taking the title with a 4-0 victory over Fluminense.

Recommended Offer

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

Key stat

Manchester City kept six clean sheets in their final nine Premier League games.

Manchester City vs Wydad AC team news

Manchester City
Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and James McAtee were not named in the Club World Cup squad while Mateo Kovacic misses the tournament through injury. John Stones have travelled but has been sidelined since February and is unlikely to feature. Rodri is back in full-time training while new signings Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri are hoping to make their debuts.

Wydad AC
New signing Nordin Amrabat will be expected to start and manager Amine Benhachem has no fresh injury concerns.

Manchester City vs Wydad AC predicted line-ups

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Reijnders; Cherki, Marmoush, Foden; Haaland.
Subs: Doku, Akanji, Silva, Gundogan, Nico, Savinho, Ake,  Lewis, O'Reilly, Khusanov.

Wydad AC (4-2-3-1): El Motie; Moufi, Meijers, Harkass, Boucheta; Malsa, Moubarik; Amrabat, Arthur, Rayhi; Obeng.
Subs: Lorch, Zemraoui, Bentkib, Fatihi, Aziz Ki, Malsa, Pedrinho, Mwalimu, Moutaraji.

Recommended Offer

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

Manchester City vs Wydad AC bet builder predictions

Omar Marmoush anytime goalscorer
The Egyptian has thrived since arriving at City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January, showing a seamless transition with seven goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

Over 7.5 Manchester City corners
The Citizens are likely to spend a lot of time in the final third and they should rack up plenty of corners with Wydad AC set for some desperate defending.

Manchester City goal range - 2-5 goals
Searing heat is forecast, which may stop City from producing a Bayern-like victory, and they have scored between two and five goals in nine of their last 13 matches.

Pays out at 3-1 with bet365

Read more . . .

Pachuca vs Salzburg predictions, betting tips and odds: Rondon to roll back the years 

Al Ain vs Juventus predictions, betting tips and odds: Old Lady likely to make winning start 

Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal predictions, betting tips and odds: Underdogs can rock Real rearguard 

Football accumulator tips for Wednesday June 18: Back our acca better than 6-1 with bet365 

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.