Real Madrid booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Juventus at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, thanks to a towering second-half header from rising star Gonzalo Garcia.
It was a moment to remember for Garcia, who connected with a pinpoint Trent Alexander-Arnold cross just nine minutes into the second half to score the only goal of the game and continue Madrid’s impressive run in the tournament.
The match also marked a significant moment for Alexander-Arnold, who registered his first assist in a Real Madrid shirt since joining the Spanish giants. The England international, making his fourth consecutive start under Xabi Alonso, had a quiet opening 45 minutes but stepped up after the break with a delivery of trademark quality.
Despite the win, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Madrid. Alonso once again opted for a 5-3-2 formation, but his side looked shaky in the early exchanges. Juventus, led by the energetic Kenan Yildiz, created several promising chances and arguably should have taken the lead.
Randal Kolo Muani wasted a glorious opportunity when he lifted a lobbed effort over the crossbar after being played in behind by Yildiz. The young Turkish forward nearly scored himself moments later with a fierce long-range effort that was deflected narrowly wide.
Madrid picked up in the second-half, and had their moments too, but the opposition goalkeeper was having a good day in office.
Jude Bellingham came closest in the first half, forcing a smart save from Michele di Gregorio from a tight angle. Federico Valverde also tested the Juventus goalkeeper with a powerful strike, but di Gregorio produced a magnificent one-handed save to keep the score level.
The Italian shot-stopper was again called into action early in the second half, denying both Bellingham and Dean Huijsen in quick succession. But there was little he could do to stop Garcia’s thunderous header, which flew into the net with unstoppable power.
With this win, Real Madrid advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the tie between Borussia Dortmund and Monterrey. Xabi Alonso’s side remain one of the favourites to lift the trophy, but defensive improvements will be needed as the competition intensifies.
For now, though, Madridistas will celebrate the emergence of Gonzalo Garcia and the growing influence of Trent Alexander-Arnold — two new pieces in Xabi Alonso’s evolving puzzle.
