Real Madrid and Juventus meet this week in Miami for a Round of 16 clash at the Club World Cup in what is an interesting clash between two of Europe’s most decorated clubs.
Under new manager Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid have shown flashes of what they eventually want to become under the Spaniard, finishing their group unbeaten with two wins and a draw. Their most recent outing, a 3-0 win over RB Salzburg, was their most convincing performance yet, with the attack finding rhythm and the defence keeping a first clean sheet of the tournament. Alonso’s side are still adapting to his methods, and while not yet at their fluent best, Madrid have demonstrated an ability to grind out results even when not at full strength.
Squad news is mixed. Eder Militao, sidelined since November with an ACL injury, is on track to rejoin the matchday squad and could see minutes off the bench, offering a timely boost to the back line. In contrast, David Alaba’s persistent calf problem has ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament, with his focus now on regaining fitness for the 2025/26 season. Kylian Mbappe’s return to training after illness is another positive, and he may be available to lead the line, having scored 42 goals in all competitions last season. However, Dani Carvajal and Endrick remain sidelined, meaning Trent Alexander-Arnold and Gonzalo Garcia will both continue to feature heavily for Los Blancos.
Juventus arrive in Miami after a bruising 5-2 defeat to Manchester City in their final group match, a result that exposed defensive frailties and cost them top spot in their group. The Bianconeri had started the tournament well, winning their opening two games, but the heavy loss to City, compounded by an own goal and late strikes from the Premier League heavyweights, highlighted a need for greater organisation at the back.
Injury concerns have mounted for manager Igor Tudor. Defender Nicolo Savona, who had been filling in at centre-back, suffered a high-grade ankle ligament injury against City and will be out for at least six weeks. This forces a likely recall for Federico Gatti, recently back from injury himself, to partner Lloyd Kelly and Pierre Kalulu in defence.
Juventus' best hope likely comes from the talents of Kenan Yildiz. The young Turk is not only one of the brightest prospects in the sport, but he's also cementing himself as the talisman of this Juvetus side, often proving the difference maker in a team that is otherwise prone to lacking attacking spark.
If Juventus' performance against Manchester City is anything to go by, their chances here are fairly limited, with the Spanish giants looking like the heavy favourites. The Italians will be determined to right the wrongs of their most recent performance, but it's hard to look past the immense quality in that Real Madrid squad.
Real Madrid 3-1 Juventus
