CWC: Is this the new Juve? UAE side killed with five shots

Who could have imagined that the most crushing triumph of any team at the FIFA Club World Cup - excluding Bayern Munich's 10-0 "terror" over the New Zealand semi-pro side Auckland City - wouldn't have been noted by Man City, Real Madrid, Chelsea, or Paris Saint-Germain, but by Juventus?!

Yes, we may have witnessed the birth of some new Juve. Igor Tudor's crew destroyed Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates 5-0 and sent a powerful message to their Group G rivals, Man City, and all the other opponents at the tournament. The Old Lady isn't joking.

Last night, Juventus were so good that they were 4-0 up already at the break, so the second half was practically an easier training session. Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao scored a brace each, while Kenan Yildiz completed Juve's column in the scoresheet.

In the next round, the Bianconeri will face the Moroccan Wydad, and if they manage to repeat last night's display, they'll undoubtedly secure the Round of 16 and then fight with the Cityzens for the top of the group.

The clash between Red Bull Salzburg and Pachuca concluded the opening round in Group H. The weather in Cincinnati was so bad that the game was interrupted at one point, and the players returned to the pitch after an hour-and-a-half-long break.

Bounou brings justice and stops poor Madrid! Xabi, this looks bad

The Austrian side apparently adapted better to those conditions, beating the Mexican team 2-1, although Pachuca deserved at least a point. They failed to win it thanks to Salzburg's custodian and the future of European football, the 18-year-old Christian Zawieschitzky, who worked wonders against the legendary Salomon Rondon and Co.

Salzburg broke the deadlock three minutes before the break over Oscar Gloukh, Pachuca levelled through Bryan Gonzalez's beautiful free-kick goal in the 56th minute, but the sub Karim Onisiwo won the game for the European side 20 minutes later.

Interestingly, following a draw in a clash between Real Madrid and Al Hilal, Salzburg now top Group H, though they'll have a much more challenging task in the next round against the Saudi club.

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025

Matchday 1

Sunday

Al Ahly Cairo - Inter Miami 0-0

Bayern Munich - Auckland City 10-0 (6-0)

/Coman 6, 21, Boey 18, Olise 20, 45+3, Muller 45, 89, Musiala 67, 73 pen, 84/

PSG - Atletico Madrid 3-0 (2-0)

/Ruiz 19, Vitinha 45+1, Mayulu 87/

Monday

Palmeiras - Porto 0-0

Botafogo - Seattle 2-1 (2-0)

/Jair 28, Igor Jesus 44 - Roldan 75/

Monday

Chelsea - Los Angeles 2-0 (1-0)

/Neto 34, Fernandez 79/

Tuesday

Boca Juniors - Benfica 2-2 (2-1)

/Merentiel 21, Battaglia 27 - Di Maria 45+3 pen, Otamendi 84/

Flamengo - Esperance 2-0 (1-0)

/De Arrascaeta 17, Araujo 70/

Fluminense - Dortmund 0-0

River Plate - Urawa RD 3-1 (1-0)

/Colidio 12, Druissi 48, Meza 73 - Matsuo 58 (p)/

Wednesday

Ulsan - Mamelodi 0-1 (0-1)

/Rayners 36/

Monterrey - Inter Milan 1-1 (1-1)

/Ramos 25 - Martinez 42/

Manchester City - Wydad Casablanca 2-0 (2-0)

/Foden 2, Doku 42/

Real Madrid - Al Hilal 1-1 (1-1)

/Garcia G. 34 - Neves 41 pen/

Thursday

Pachuca - Salzburg 1-2 (0-1)

/Gonzalez 56 - Gloukh 42, Onisiwo 76/

Al Ain - Juventus 0-5 (0-4)

/Kolo Muani 11, 45+4, Conceicao 21, 58, Yildiz 31/