Key events
Midnight oil
Today’s match kicks off at 2am UK time, and 5am in the UAE.
If you’re a fan of either of these teams and watching from their home locales, I gotta know:
1) Why?
2) How are you staying up / waking up?
Al Ain’s XI
Goalkeeper: Khalid Eisa
Defenders: Facundo Zabala, Amadou Niang, Ramy Rabia, Adis Jašić
Midfielders: Abdoul Traore, Yahia Nader, Yong-woo Park
Forwards: Mohammed Al Baloushi, Nassim Chadli, Soufiane Rahimi
Manchester City’s XI
As promised, Pep Guardiola has named a much-changed starting group for tonight’s game against Al Ain.
Goalkeeper: Stefan Ortega Moreno
Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Abdukodir Khusanov, Joško Gvardiol, Rayan Aït-Nouri
Midfielders: Nico, İlkay Gündoğan, Bernardo Silva
Wingers: Matheus Nunes, Claudio Echeverri
Striker: Erling Haaland
John Stones: ‘I want to stay’
Manchester City’s defensive stalwart has moved to shut down talk of a move away.
‘10 new players’ incoming
Pep Guardiola said he wouldn’t be shy to ring the changes for Man City ahead of their second game of the Club World Cup, telling reporters he’ll bring in an even 10 new players to the team after the tournament-opening 2-0 win over Wydad:
More from Jamie Jackson:
Preamble
Alex will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s what else has gone on today: