Man City v Urawa Reds LIVE: Result and reaction from Club World Cup as City cruise into final

Man City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds: Goals for Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva, as well as an own goal, did the job in Saudi Arabia

Academy investment is really paying off - Guardiola

Manchester City outclassed Urawa Red Diamonds in a 3-0 victory in the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium to set up a Club World Cup final showdown against Brazilian side Fluminense.

European champions City were frustrated by a well-organised Japanese side during the opening half but took the lead with an own goal by Marius Hoibraten in stoppage time.

Mateo Kovacic made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute and Bernardo Silva's deflected shot a few minutes later meant City could play the rest of the game in cruise control.

Pep Guardiola's City, who had won only three of their previous eight games in all competitions, are looking to become the fourth English club to win the title after Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

They will start as heavy favourites in Friday's final against Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense who on Monday beat Egypt's Al-Ahly 2-0.

Relive the action below

Manchester City vs Urawa Red Diamonds live

• Manchester City beat Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 in the Club World Cup
• City entered the competition at the semi-final stage and need just one more win to lift the trophy
• FULL-TIME! Man City 3-0 Urawa Reds
• 59’ - GOAL! Silva’s effort deflects beyond the goalkeeper (MCI 3-0 URD)
• 52’ - GOAL! Kovacic finishes well after perfect ball slid through (MCI 2-0 URD)
• 45+1’ - GOAL! Hoibraten turns Nunes’s cross into his own net (MCI 1-0 URD)
• 32’ - SAVE! Nunes’s driven shot topped over the bar (MCI 0-0 URD)

[19 December 2023 17:05 · Luke Baker]

Manchester City team news

Here’s the City line-up for this evening. No Haaland, De Bruyne or Doku as they continue to battle injury but a strong starting XI named by Pep.

[19 December 2023 16:52 · Luke Baker]

Urawa Red Diamonds vs Manchester City predictions: Club World Cup tips, odds and free bets

Manchester City will kick off their 2023 Club World Cup campaign with a clash against Urawa Red Diamonds.

Cityzens boss Pep Guardiola has won the competition three times before as a manager, although not with City, and can win it for a fourth time in Saudi Arabia.

Urawa Red Diamonds knocked out Concacaf Champions League winners Leon in the last round to make the final four where they will come up against City.

Football betting sites have priced Guardiola’s team as strong favourites, but there will be an element of the unknown to this fixture. Can the Japanese side pull off a shock?

Here are three betting tips ahead of the clash:

[19 December 2023 16:40 · Luke Baker]

Manchester City early team news

City are waiting on the fitness of striker Erling Haaland, who has missed the last three games with a foot injury – including Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.

Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku have travelled with the squad as they near returns from injury but are unlikely to play. Guardiola is expected to make several changes from Saturday’s team and ahead of a potential final on Friday.

Predicted Manchester City line-up

Ederson; Walker, Stones, Akanji, Lewis; Rodri, Kovacic; Bobb, Silva, Grealish; Alvarez

[19 December 2023 16:32 · Luke Baker]

When is Manchester City vs Urawa Reds and how can I watch it?

When is Manchester City vs Urawa Reds?

The match will kick off at 6pm GMT on Tuesday 19 December at the King Abdullah Sports City, Saudi Arabia.

How can I watch it?

The Club World Cup is being shown on TNT Sports in the UK and Manchester City’s semi-final will be live on TNT Sports 2. TNT Sports subscribers can also stream the action live on Discovery+.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

[19 December 2023 16:23 · Luke Baker]

Is Man City v Urawa Reds on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch Club World Cup

Manchester City head to the Club World Cup looking to add another trophy to their collection under Pep Guardiola as the treble winners face Japanese side and Asian champions Urawa Reds in Saudi Arabia tonight.

City won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last season to qualify for the Club World Cup as European champions for the first time, and Guardiola’s side are strong favourites to win the competition.

Brazilian side and South American champions Fluminense await in Friday’s final after beating Al Ahly but Guardiola has insisted that City face a “difficult” task as they look to put their recent Premier League struggles behind them.

The champions have won just one of their last six games and Guardiola said: “It’s the first time Man City are here. That shows how difficult it is. We won’t take it for granted. We take it as a privilege. Of course we want to win it. It is a trophy we don’t have. We want to close a little circle, that we have won all the trophies we could do. This is the last one. I don’t know if we’ll have another chance. Maybe it is a once in a lifetime. It is difficult to be here.”

Here’s everything you need to know:

[19 December 2023 16:15 · Luke Baker]

Manchester City vs Urawa Red Diamonds

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Manchester City vs Urawa Red Diamonds this evening.

City are on a midweek jaunt to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup and victory in this semi-final would see them face Fluminese in Friday’s final.

Stick with us for full live coverage.