Real Madrid advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Juventus at the Hard Rock Stadium on Tuesday. A towering header from Gonzalo Garcia in the 54th minute proved to be the difference in a match dominated by the Spanish giants.
Xabi Alonso’s men controlled proceedings for much of the game, pinning Juventus deep in their own half and carving out a series of chances. However, an inspired performance by Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio kept the scoreline tight and prevented a more emphatic result for Madrid.
Real began on the front foot, dictating the tempo early and forcing Juventus into defensive mode. But the Serie A side nearly struck first on a quick counter-attack, with Randal Kolo Muani lofting a shot onto the roof of the net. Moments later, Francisco Conceição squandered a golden opportunity with a tame header straight at Thibaut Courtois.
Di Gregorio was Juventus’ standout performer, denying Jude Bellingham from close range with an acrobatic save using his foot around the 30-minute mark. He followed it up with a stunning stop in first-half injury time, diving full-stretch to tip away a curling effort from Federico Valverde.
The Juventus keeper continued his heroics after the break, blocking back-to-back attempts from Bellingham and Dean Huijsen. But Madrid’s pressure eventually paid off when Garcia rose highest to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pinpoint cross and headed home the decisive goal.
Valverde came close to doubling the lead with a spectacular overhead kick, again denied by Di Gregorio. The second half also saw the much-anticipated debut of Kylian Mbappe in the tournament, returning from a brief illness.
Despite late attempts by Juventus to find an equalizer, Real Madrid managed the final stages with composure, sealing their spot in the last eight and underlining their status as tournament favourites.
