Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute header handed Real Madrid a narrow 1-0 win over Juventus, sealing a place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals.
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The victory at Hard Rock Stadium sets up a clash with either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey.
Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso praised his side’s maturity, while also welcoming back Kylian Mbappe, who came off the bench after recovering from illness.
Juventus began the game with energy, with Kenan Yildiz and Randal Kolo Muani threatening early.
However, Real Madrid steadily grew into the match.
Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde forced strong saves from Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio as Madrid finished the first half on top.
The breakthrough came when Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a pinpoint cross that Garcia met with a clinical header . This is his third goal in four matches.
Real Madrid continued to dominate, but couldn’t add a second, despite further efforts from Valverde, Arda Guler, and Mbappe’s late cameo, reports Sports NDTV.
Juventus pushed for an equaliser, but struggled with fatigue and heat, with manager Igor Tudor revealing multiple players requested substitutions.
Despite the tight scoreline, Alonso was content with the gritty win, noting Real’s composure and resilience under pressure.
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