Juventus place ex-Orlando Pirates star Thembinkosi Lorch as key target on 'Opposition Watch' after impressive outing for Wydad Casablanca against Manchester City at the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup

Thembinkosi Lorch dazzled when Wydad Casablanca faced Manchester City in their 2025 Fifa World Cup opening match last Wednesday.

Although Wydad went down 2-0 to the Premier League giants, who finished the match with 10 men, Lorch's performance did not go unnoticed.

The Moroccan side now faces another UEFA heavyweight, Juventus, on Sunday in their second Group G match, and the Old Lady have given special mention to Lorch as the man to watch.

"Thembinkosi Lorch was Wydad AC's top player for shots attempted [three], touches in the opponent's box [seven] and passes into the final third [15] against Manchester City," noted Juventus in their Opposition Watch.

"Additionally, only Mohamed Moufid (three) created more chances than Lorch [two] for the Biancorossi."

After getting rave reviews following his outing against City and then seeing Juventus making him a target, Lorch could be brimming with confidence going into Sunday's match.

That might create some pressure around him to meet the high expectations he has created for himself.

This could also make him go into this match alert to the attention he could get from the Old Lady defenders.

Wydad coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem might be modelling his game around Lorch to make the Mamelodi Sundowns loanee thrive on Sunday.

That would be key for Wydad who also have another South African star Cassius Mailula in their books.