Real Madrid hit their stride at the Club World Cup on Tuesday, edging Juventus 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals thanks to a second-half strike from academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia.
This was as Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut after the France forward missed the group stage due to gastroenteritis.
Garcia, deputising for Mbappe, found the back of the net early in the second half to set up a meeting with either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey.
Mbappe made his much-anticipated appearance as a second-half substitute, delighting the partisan crowd who packed Hard Rock Stadium to near capacity in a demonstration of the Spanish giants’ considerable global appeal.
Juventus had early chances but gradually faded under the relentless pressing of Xabi Alonso’s side and had goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio to thank for sparing them a heavier defeat.
After a lacklustre group phase, Real, playing in Alonso’s favoured 3-4-3, showed glimpses of what they could be capable of under their new coach.
Juventus striker Randal Kolo Muani, set up by Kenan Yildiz’s incisive pass that split the Real Madrid defence, attempted an audacious chip in the seventh minute.
Muani however sent the ball narrowly over Thibaut Courtois’s crossbar.
Moments later, Yildiz tried his luck from long range but saw his effort fly wide.
Real Madrid grew into the match and nearly capitalised on a defensive lapse by Juventus.
Jude Bellingham, aiming a sharp angled strike, was denied by Di Gregorio, whose quick reactions kept the Italian side level.
Di Gregorio was called into action again shortly before halftime, making an impressive save to parry away a thunderous long-range shot from Federico Valverde.
Juventus, under pressure late in the first half, must have been satisfied to reach the interval with the scoreline still goalless.
Twice early in the second half Di Gregorio denied Bellingham and Dean Huijsen.
But he was helpless when Garcia headed home from Trent Alexander Arnold’s pin-point cross in the 54th minute for his third goal in the tournament.
The Italian keeper sustained some hope for Juventus, his reaction save preventing Valverde from scoring with a bicycle kick.
‘Mbappe, Mbappe!’ the crowd chanted as the France forward, after warming up, ran towards the bench to get ready to replace Garcia midway through the second half.
The 26-year-old was often in a good position but he was not properly served by his team mates and his start in the 32-team tournament eventually looked like a glorified workout. (Reuters/NAN)
