Real Madrid vs Juventus

European Giants Clash as Real Madrid Face Juventus in Club World Cup Showdown

A blockbuster last-16 tie awaits as Real Madrid and Juventus go head-to-head in the Club World Cup on Tuesday, with both sides eyeing a spot in the quarter-finals of the prestigious tournament.

Road to the Knockouts

Real Madrid topped Group H with seven points from three games, bouncing back from an opening 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal with convincing wins over Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg. Their most impressive performance came last time out against Salzburg, where Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, and Gonzalo Garcia all found the net in a 3-0 victory.

Meanwhile, Juventus finished second in Group G with six points. They started strong, thrashing Al Ain 5-0 and Wydad AC 4-1, but fell short in their final group match, suffering a 5-2 defeat to Manchester City in a battle for top spot.

A New Era for Real Madrid

Under new manager Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos are entering a fresh chapter after a disappointing 2024-25 season. The Spanish giants have already strengthened their squad with the signings of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold, with more reinforcements expected before the transfer window closes.

Juventus Seeking Redemption

For Juventus, this is a chance to prove they can still compete with Europe’s elite. The Old Lady hasn’t won Serie A since 2019-20, and last season’s fourth-place finish continued their recent struggles in Italy. Manager Igor Tudor will be eager to spring a surprise, but facing Real Madrid at this stage is far from ideal.

Head-to-Head History

This will be the first meeting between the two sides since the 2017-18 Champions League quarter-finals, where Juventus won the second leg 3-1 in Madrid—but still crashed out 4-3 on aggregate. Overall, Real Madrid edge the historical battle with 10 wins to Juventus’ nine, while just two matches have ended in draws.

Team News

Real Madrid:

• Antonio Rüdiger is fit after overcoming cramp.

• Kylian Mbappé is back in training after illness and could make the bench.

• Éder Militão may return, but Dani Carvajal, Eduardo Camavinga, David Alaba, Endrick, and Ferland Mendy remain out.

• Alonso is likely to stick with a 3-5-2 formation, with Gonzalo Garcia partnering Vinicius up front.

Juventus:

• Tudor is expected to rotate after the heavy loss to Man City.

• Khephren Thuram should return in midfield, while Kenan Yıldız, Francisco Conceição, and Randal Kolo Muani could start in attack.

• Andrea Cambiaso is set to feature at left wing-back.

What’s at Stake?

The winner will advance to face either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the quarter-finals. For Real Madrid, it’s a chance to build momentum under Alonso. For Juventus, it’s an opportunity to remind the world of their pedigree.