Under the searing Florida sun, Real Madrid edged Juventus 1-0 in a tense Club World Cup knockout clash, propelled by academy hero Gonzalo García’s decisive header while Kylian Mbappé’s long-awaited tournament debut fizzled into a subdued cameo.
The match ignited when García – deputising for the gastroenteritis-stricken Mbappé – rose highest in the 54th minute, meeting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s laser-guided cross to thump a header beyond Michele Di Gregorio. The 21-year-old’s third goal of the tournament sent the partisan 63,000-strong Hard Rock Stadium crowd into raptures. Juventus threatened early through Randal Kolo Muani’s audacious 7th-minute chip that sailed inches over Thibaut Courtois’ bar. Kenan Yildiz then rifled wide as the Italians exploited Real’s high defensive line. But Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-3 system soon took hold. Jude Bellingham forced a sharp save from Di Gregorio, who later produced a stunning parry to deny Federico Valverde’s thunderous 30-yard drive before halftime.The Juventus goalkeeper single-handedly kept his side alive:
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47’: Denied Bellingham’s angled strike at full stretch
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51’: Smothered Dean Huijsen’s close-range effort
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68’: Miraculously palmed away Valverde’s overhead kick
“Without him, this becomes a humiliation,” conceded Juventus manager Thiago Motta post-match.
As chants of “Mbappé! Mbappé!” swept the stadium in the 65th minute, the €180m superstar replaced goalscorer García. But despite clever movement, he received just nine touches in 25 minutes. One promising run ended with Vinícius Júnior ignoring his overlap – a snapshot of his frustrating, “glorified workout” debut.Real’s performance showcased Alonso’s evolving vision:
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Alexander-Arnold’s hybrid midfield role created García’s winner
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Relentless pressing forced 15 Juventus turnovers in attacking third
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Camavinga and Valverde dominated central zones after shaky start
Real advance to face Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the quarter-finals. For Mbappé, greater expectations await. As García noted: “Scoring for Real Madrid never feels routine – especially when you’re keeping his seat warm.”