Man City 6 Al Ain 0: Cherki shows glimpse of future but City now face crunch Juventus tie to avoid horror knockout draw

ILKAY GUNDOGAN struck twice as Manchester City booked their place in the last 16 in emphatic fashion.

However, Pep Guardiola’s men will now need to beat Juventus in Orlando on Thursday to avoid a likely last 16 meeting with old foes Real Madrid.

The Italian giants are top on goal difference going into the final Group G fixture – so only a win ensures top spot in the group for City.

Former skipper Gundo is being linked with a move to Galatasaray, but put speculation to one side to spearhead this easy win.

Erling Haaland, Claudio Echeverri, Oscar Bobb and new boy Rayan Cherki were also on the mark at the home of the Atlanta Falcons.

And the victory – plus a safe passage into the knockout round – banks another £7 million into the Etihad coffers.

For the second time in this tournament, City struck early against one of the outsiders – taking the lead in the eighth minute.

Gundogan clipped a ball to the back post – aiming for Haaland – but the ball looped over keeper Khalid Eissa and dropped in.

If the German meant it, then it was a stroke of genius but his cheeky grin as he celebrated suggested otherwise.

Al Ain could have hit straight back as Nico Gonzalez lost possession –  but Stefan Ortega had to make a full stretch save to deny Nassim Chadli.

And it proved a costly miss as City edged further ahead when Argentine kid Claudio Echeverri curled home a 20 yard free kick.

The January arrival from River Plate has been likened to Lionel Messi in his homeland – and it was the kind of goal the little maestro would have been happy with.

Now it was a question of how many as Haaland dispossessed Park Yong Woo and went round the keeper but the angle was tight and he slid his effort wide of the far post.

And a header from Josko Gvardiol from a Bernardo Silva corner beat the Al Ain keeper but bounced off the post.

Finally, the Norwegian did get on the scoresheet after Manuel Akanji was bundled over in the box by Rami Rabia – and the ref gave a pen after a VAR check.

Haaland surprisingly gave up penalty-taking duties in the FA Cup final – only for Omar Marmoush to miss – but he was back on them here and found the bottom corner.

City knew only a victory by seven goals would put them above Juventus – their final group opponents in Orlando on Thursday.

Top spot could be crucial with the runners up likely to be paired with Real Madrid in the last 16.

But the Abu Dhabi side stood firm as both Matheus Nunes and Haaland went close.

Gundogan did make it four when he ran onto a pass from Bernardo and dinked his effort over Eissa.

And Bobb – who missed almost all of last season with injury – cut in from the right to send a low shot past the keeper.

New signing from Lyon Cherki took a pass from Haaland before thumping home a low shot to complete the rout.

However, the seventh goal – which would have seen them overtake Juve on goal difference – just eluded them.