By Sachit Subba • Football • Jul 02, 2025 02:01 AM • 69 views
On a balmy Tuesday night in Miami, under the floodlights of the packed Hard Rock Stadium, Real Madrid took a decisive step forward in the Club World Cup, edging past Juventus 1-0 in a match that blended promise, patience, and the electric buzz of a superstar's return.
The lone goal came from an unlikely hero—academy product Gonzalo Garcia, who rose to the occasion in the 54th minute, guiding home a precise cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold to send the Spanish giants into the quarter-finals. For Garcia, it was his third goal of the tournament and a statement performance on a night when Kylian Mbappé made his much-anticipated debut in white.
Mbappé, sidelined from the group stage by gastroenteritis, finally made his tournament bow as a second-half substitute. The crowd erupted when the 26-year-old emerged from the bench, chants of "Mbappé! Mbappé!" shaking the stadium to its core. Yet, despite the fanfare, the Frenchman's introduction offered more sizzle than substance, as his teammates failed to provide him with service worthy of his lethal finishing touch.
Real Finally Click Under Alonso
After a lukewarm start to the tournament, this was a different Real Madrid—one that looked more in sync with Xabi Alonso's tactical blueprint. The 3-4-3 system, at times rigid in the group phase, flowed with more intent and fluidity, primarily through midfield orchestrators Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde.
Juventus, for their part, started brightly. Randal Kolo Muani had an early sight of goal after a lovely through ball from Kenan Yildiz split Madrid's backline. His delicate chip floated just over Thibaut Courtois' bar, a missed opportunity that would loom large later. Yildiz himself tried from a distance soon after, but his effort lacked direction.
But once Madrid settled, Juventus found themselves on the back foot. Bellingham tested Michele Di Gregorio with a sharp drive, and Valverde unleashed a 30-yard rocket that required the Juve shot-stopper to leap at full stretch to keep it out. By halftime, the Italians were hanging on.
Garcia Takes Centre Stage
Real's breakthrough came not through their marquee signing but through their youth system. Garcia, starting in place of the recovering Mbappé, latched onto Alexander-Arnold's inch-perfect delivery and buried his header past a helpless Di Gregorio. At just 20, Garcia has emerged as the unexpected focal point of Madrid's attack in this tournament—a reminder that beneath all the Galactico glitter, the club's academy pipeline still runs strong. "He's taken his chance with both hands," said Alonso post-match. "That goal was about positioning, bravery, and timing—everything we work on in training.”
What's Next
With the win, Real Madrid march into the quarter-finals, where they'll face the winner between Borussia Dortmund and Monterrey—a clash that promises further tests of Alonso's evolving system. As for Juventus, it's back to the drawing board. They came with hope but left outclassed, outworked, and outgunned.
