Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Juventus in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup, thanks to a second-half goal from Gonzalo Garcia. The final was held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where the US and Netherlands fought tooth and nail for every inch. With their victory, Real Madrid added their name to the list of clubs joining the last eight. They’ll play Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the final on Saturday.
The decisive moment came just nine minutes into the second half. Garcia made sure to deliver the ball home with the point of his close-range header. To be fair to the defense, Trent Alexander-Arnold hit an inch-perfect cross into the box. This pinpoint delivery gave Garcia just enough space to finish so easily. This is Garcia’s third goal during the current tournament.
Key Contributions and Tactical Decisions
Real Madrid’s manager, Xabi Alonso, maintained continuity by fielding an unchanged starting XI from their previous match against Red Bull Salzburg. That decision was another testament to his belief in the consistency of that squad’s performance, or lack thereof. Missing out on what turned out to be a decisive clash, despite sitting on the bench as he returned from injury, was star man Kylian Mbappe.
It seems that Juventus has done just that following their opening matchday defeat to Manchester City.
Weighted Changes
Igor Tudor made six changes to the starting XI to freshen things up. The only players to hold their positions in the opening formation were Di Gregorio, Kalulu, Kelly, Costa and Locatelli. This tactical switch was designed to breathe new life into the squad, but it proved too little against a valiant Real Madrid team.
The game opened up with both sides looking to test and find openings in each other’s defense. Right from the start, Juve looked promising going forward but lacked a clinical edge to take their chances. It was Real Madrid who stayed more and more in control of the match as time went on.
“Really delighted with the result and the performance as well. After the first 15 minutes we started getting good control. We had to work. It was going to be tough, but we were professional and we did pretty well.”
The Match Unfolds
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role proved pivotal. Stationed on the far right side of the box, he was given too much time and space by Juve defenders. His impact was hardly limited to his goals, as his precision with crosses was made clear when he assisted Garcia’s game-winner. Alonso’s confidence in Alexander-Arnold’s crossing prowess has been visible since the latter first walked through the club’s doors.
Though the tactical switch helped Juventus address pairing problems, they struggled defensively for 90 minutes. It took a hapless 61 minutes for them to register an actual clear-cut chance, constantly challenged by a well-organized and organized Real Madrid backline. Igor Tudor acknowledged his team’s efforts but recognized their shortcomings:
This unfortunate defeat leaves Juventus with much to answer for as they leave the tournament much sooner than expected. USC’s failure to take advantage of scoring chances was their greatest undoing against a strong competitive force.
“I hope he [Trent] can get assists like he did in Liverpool. In training, he’s horrible; his kicking is amazing. His free-kicks and corner kicks are on another level. I don’t think I’ve seen a player with this quality of kicking and crossing.”
Juventus’ Struggles
Despite their tactical changes, Juventus faced challenges throughout the match. They struggled to create clear-cut chances and were often thwarted by a disciplined Real Madrid defense. Igor Tudor acknowledged his team’s efforts but recognized their shortcomings:
“I need to say congratulations to my players because they make a serious game in these conditions, where it’s impossible to do anything. It was not enough, but that’s football.”
The defeat leaves Juventus with questions to answer as they exit the tournament earlier than anticipated. Their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities ultimately cost them against a formidable opponent.
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