On July 1, when Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut, Real Madrid found their rhythm in the Club World Cup, defeating 1-0 Juventus to go to the quarterfinals due to a goal from academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia in the second half.
García’s Decisive Goal Seals Victory
Garcia scored early in the second half to set up a matchup with either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey after replacing Mbappe, who missed the group stage due to gastroenteritis.
Mbappé’s Highly Anticipated CWC Debut
The passionate audience that filled Hard Rock Stadium to full was thrilled when Mbappe made his eagerly awaited arrival as a second-half replacement, proving the Spanish powerhouses’ immense popularity on a worldwide scale.
Juventus Resistance Overcome by Madrid Pressure
Juventus had early opportunities but eventually lost ground to Xabi Alonso’s team’s constant pressure. They were saved from a more severe loss by goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Alonso’s Tactical Shift Pays Off
After a disappointing group stage, Real Madrid showed signs of their potential under their new coach by playing in Alonso’s favoured 3-4-3.
Early Juventus Chances & Di Gregorio Heroics
Randal Kolo Muani, a striker for Juventus, attempted a bold chip in the 7-minute but missed Thibaut Courtois’ crossbar after being set up by Kenan Yildiz’s sharp pass that split the Real Madrid defenders.
Yildiz attempted a long-range shot a few moments later but watched it miss the mark.
Real Madrid advanced in the game and almost took advantage of a Juventus defensive blunder.
Di Gregorio stopped Jude Bellingham’s sharply slanted attempt, keeping the Italian team even with his fast reflexes.
Just before halftime, Di Gregorio was called upon once more, making a spectacular save to save Federico Valverde’s thundering long-range attempt.
Juventus must have been happy to make it to halftime with the score still tied after being under pressure late in the first half.
García Breaks Deadlock, Di Gregorio Denies Valverde
Di Gregorio stopped Bellingham and Dean Huijsen twice in the 1st half of the 2nd half. Still, he was powerless when Garcia scored his third goal of the tournament in the fifty-fourth minute after Trent Alexander-Arnold pinpoint pass.
The Italian keeper gave Juventus FC some hope with a quick save that prevented Federico Valverde from scoring with a bicycle-kick.
Mbappé Makes Entertaining Cameo Appearance
“Mbappe, Mbappe!” As the France forward warmed up and ran to the bench to prepare to replace Garcia halfway through the second half, the crowd yelled.
The 26-year-old was mostly in a good position, his teammates did not properly serve him, and his start in the 32-team tournament eventually looked like a glorified workout.
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