Real Madrid edged past Juventus 1–0 in last night’s Round-of-16 match at the Club World Cup in Miami, booking a place in the quarter-finals. The breakthrough came via a towering header from academy graduate Gonzalo García—his third goal of the tournament—victimizing Juventus custodian Michele Di Gregorio .
Despite the presence of high-profile stars, it was García, a 21-year-old homegrown talent, who stole the spotlight with his decisive goal. The strike resulted from a sublime Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery, showcasing Madrid’s midfield creativity .
Key performances across the pitch helped secure the win. Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and Arda Güler were instrumental in controlling tempo and probing the Juventus defence. Meanwhile, newly-signed Alexander-Arnold delivered a silky assist—his first for Real—while defensive discipline limited Juventus’s opportunities .
Kylian Mbappé made his tournament debut in the second half, returning from gastroenteritis, and gained valuable minutes to regain full sharpness ahead of the quarter-finals . Head coach Xabi Alonso praised the team’s adaptability, noting their strong game management and collective resilience .
Real Madrid now await their quarter-final opponent: either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey. Dortmund coach Niko Kovac, whose side defeated Monterrey 2–1, described facing Madrid as “a bonus” and a significant test for his squad .
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