PEP GUARDIOLA and his squad are obviously loving their time in Florida.
Because Manchester City’s next two knockout matches are now scheduled to be here in Orlando – just a short hop from their beachside training base in Boca Raton.
The ‘Sunshine State’ even produced a heavy first half downpour – just to ensure Pep’s men feel right at home in the Camping World Stadium.
It was raining goals again too as Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Savinho were all on the scoresheet along with an OG from Pierre Kalulu.
And it means City finish top of Group G – which could be crucial for their hopes of retaining the trophy.
As well as meaning less travel, they are also in a much more favourable half of the draw with Bayern Munich and PSG in the other one.
A showdown with Guardiola’s former assistant Enzo Maresca and his Chelsea team is now a possibility in the semi-final.
Pep admitted before the game he had selected his team with the extreme weather in mind.
It was ‘only’ 31 degrees when the game kicked off in mid afternoon but the humidity made it feel more like 40.
So the City boss was keen to ensure he had an injection of energy for the second half – with Haaland one of those left on the bench.
Meanwhile there was a first start since mid-September for Ballon D’Or winner Rodri who has battled back from a cruciate knee injury.
Knowing their place in the last 16 was guaranteed, Juve coach Igor Tudor also made changes.
Yet the difference between winning the group and finishing second will not have escaped the notice of the two camps.
The runners-up were looking at a much more difficult route to the final – with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain lying in wait – en route to the final in New York on July 13.
And this was City’s first real test of the tournament – against a team who beat them in the Champions League back in December.
Right from the start they looked like they fancied it though.
Rayan Ait Nouri’s cross from the left found skipper Bernardo Silva at the back post but his header was saved by the legs of Michele di Gregorio.
But the former Wolves man – who caught the eye on his debut against Al Ain at the weekend – was catching the eye again.
He sliced open the home defence with a pass to Jeremy Doku who cut inside his full-back and rolled a shot into the corner.
For the third game in a row at this tournament, City had scored inside the first 10 minutes and it was a perfect start.
Yet within two minutes they gifted the Italians a route back in as Ederson’s radar was off with his pass out to Bernardo.
The Portuguese could not reach it and Teun Koopmeiners could not believe his luck as he drove into the empty space and thumped home.
Maybe the heat was affecting the players because 15 minutes later it was Juve dropping a clanger.
Savinho and Matheus Nunes combined to get the ball across but it was some way from its target Omar Marmoush.
Pierre Kalulu did not realise he was under no pressure though – and turned the ball into his own net rather than putting it out for a corner.
Marmoush and Savinho both had tame efforts saved but City were starting to stamp their authority on the game after an open start.
A heavy rain shower shortly before the interval was probably just the job to cool the English side down.
As expected, Haaland was on for the second half and almost made an immediate impact but could not quite get his toe onto Savinho’s cross.
But he did not have to wait long for his goal – nice work from new boy Tijjani Reijnders and Nunes presented the Norwegian with an open net.
His finish was hardly emphatic but as the former Borussia Dortmund man knows – they all count. 300 career goals before he hits 25 years old is going some.
City just needed to see the game out but Ederson made amends for his earlier mistake by dashing off his line to deny Dusan Vlahovic.
And it proved to be a key moment as Haaland sent Savinho in on goal before he unselfishly allowed sub Phil Foden to roll in number four.
Then a corner from the left was only half cleared by the Italians and Savinho thumped a 20 yard shot in off the underside of the bar.
Vlahovic raced clear to score a consolation six minutes from time but by then City fans were already booking their extended stay here.
Three wins, 13 goals and only two conceded. Pep’s men clearly mean business out here.
