Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus: Los Blancos win as Mbappe makes his first appearance in the tournament
Real Madrid advanced to the Club World Cup quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over Juventus on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappe made his debut after sitting out the group stages due to illness, but the headlines belonged to academy forward Gonzalo Garcia, whose second-half header proved the difference between the two teams.
Xabi Alonso once again set up his side in a three-man defence and Madrid looked sharper and more assured.
Juventus threatened early, particularly through Randal Kolo Muani. The Frenchman was inches away from opening the scoring in the seventh minute, dinking just over Thibaut Courtois’s bar after being released by a Kenan Yildiz pass.
That early promise fizzled, though, as Madrid’s midfield began to settle into proceedings.
Jude Bellingham was at the heart of the Spanish side’s best moments, testing Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio twice in the first half with efforts that required sharp handling. Federico Valverde also stung Di Gregorio’s gloves with a long-range strike.
Madrid’s goal came ten minutes into the second half when Trent Alexander-Arnold, operating with freedom down the right wing, bent in a teasing cross, and Garcia rose between Juventus centre-backs to glance a header into the far corner. It was the 21-year-old’s third goal of the competition.
Midway through the second half, Mbappe entered the fray to replace Garcia. He drifted into promising areas and combined well with Vinicius on the left to set up an Arda Guler shot, which was saved by Di Gregorio. The goalie was the standout figure for Juventus, helping to keep the scoreline respectable.
