Real Madrid continued their strong run in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a 1-0 win over Juventus at the Hard Rock Stadium on Tuesday night. The Spanish giants booked their place in the quarter-finals thanks to a second-half header from Gonzalo Garcia. With this result, Madrid extended their unbeaten run under Xabi Alonso to three consecutive victories in the tournament.
In a tightly contested rematch of the 2017 UEFA Champions League final, Madrid once again came out on top. This time, it was 21-year-old Spanish forward Gonzalo Garcia who made the difference with a well-placed header in the 54th minute. His goal—his third in four tournament games—proved enough to seal Real Madrid’s progress.
Match Summary:
- Fixture: Real Madrid vs Juventus
- Final Score: Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus
- Goal Scorer: Gonzalo Garcia (54′)
- Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- Competition: FIFA Club World Cup 2025
- Stage: Round of 16
- Result: Real Madrid advance to quarter-finals
- Next Opponent: Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey
- Key Players: Garcia, Valverde, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham
- Mbappé Status: Returned from illness, played 22 minutes
- Attendance: 62,149
Gonzalo Garcia’s Header Lifts Real Madrid
The match-winner came after a brilliant build-up from Real Madrid early in the second half. Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a pinpoint cross from the right, and Garcia made no mistake, timing his jump perfectly to head home past Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. The goal was a product of Real Madrid’s growing control after halftime, with Garcia, Valverde, and Bellingham combining well throughout.
The 21-year-old has become one of the standout performers for Madrid in the Club World Cup. With Kylian Mbappé recovering from illness, Garcia has stepped up with goals and movement that have added a sharp edge to the Madrid attack. His positioning, work rate, and finishing have been praised by head coach Xabi Alonso, who even likened him to club legend Raúl.
Xabi was pleased not just with the young striker’s performance, but with the team’s maturity, saying:
“We had to be patient, we had to mature into the game. We didn’t score the second goal to give ourselves more margin, but we had to grit our teeth and hold on—and I’m happy about that too.“
Real Madrid looked more dangerous as the match went on, creating chances before and after the goal. Valverde tested the Juventus keeper with a spectacular overhead kick, while Jude Bellingham came close with efforts from range. Despite Juventus’ early chances, including a one-on-one from Randal Kolo Muani that went over the bar, Madrid were clearly dominant in the second half.
Mbappé Returns for Real Madrid Ahead of Next Clash
Kylian Mbappé returned to action in the 68th minute, coming on as a substitute for his first appearance in the tournament. Though he didn’t score, his impact was immediate—creating two chances and completing nearly every pass. His recovery from gastroenteritis comes at a perfect time for Real Madrid, who will need their best players as they prepare for the quarter-finals.
Madrid will now face the winner of the other round-of-16 tie between Borussia Dortmund and Monterrey. With Garcia in form and Mbappé back in the squad, Real Madrid have a strong foundation heading into the next round.
Juventus, meanwhile, had brief spells of promise. Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceição looked lively in attack, and goalkeeper Di Gregorio kept his team in the game with several crucial saves. But ultimately, Madrid’s quality and depth were too much for the Italian side to handle.
The defense, led by Courtois, Rüdiger, and Tchouaméni, managed to keep Juventus quiet in the final stages, ensuring Real Madrid secured their third clean sheet in a row.
What’s Next for Real Madrid
Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-finals on Saturday, July 6, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. After three straight wins and three clean sheets, Xabi Alonso’s side will be aiming to maintain their momentum with Gonzalo Garcia likely to lead the line again and Kylian Mbappé pushing for a starting spot after returning from illness.
With a semi-final spot on the line, Madrid know they’ll need to be sharper in attack and more compact defensively against a dangerous Dortmund side. A win would move the Spanish giants one step closer to another global trophy, keeping alive their hopes of lifting the Club World Cup title for a record-extending sixth time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Who scored the winning goal for Real Madrid against Juventus?
A: Gonzalo Garcia scored the only goal in the 54th minute with a header.
Q2: What was the final score between Real Madrid and Juventus?
A: Real Madrid beat Juventus 1-0.
Q3: When is Real Madrid’s next match in the Club World Cup 2025?
A: Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, July 6, in the quarter-finals.
Q4: Did Mbappé play in the match against Juventus?
A: Yes, Kylian Mbappé made his return from illness, coming on as a substitute in the 68th minute.