Real Madrid faces Juventus in the Club World Cup round of 16 on Tuesday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium. This fixture is a repeat of several past Champions League finals. After a shaky start to the competition with a draw against Al-Hilal, Madrid secured the top spot in Group H thanks to solid wins over Pachuca and Salzburg. Federico Valverde scored twice as Xabi Alonso`s tactical tweaks began to settle in.
Juventus had an even more impressive start, achieving dominant wins against Al Ain and Wydad Casablanca, leading some observers to wonder if the Old Lady could emerge as a dark horse in the tournament. However, such notions might be premature following their recent 5-2 thrashing by Manchester City. Coach Igor Tudor could argue he fielded a heavily rotated squad with a view towards a potential subsequent clash with Madrid. The upcoming match will determine if his selection strategy in Orlando was justified.
The Italian side will certainly be the underdogs against Madrid, but this encounter could play out differently from many of their previous high-profile Champions League meetings. Could this finally be the day the Bianconeri get their revenge for the finals lost in 1998 and 2017?
Viewing Information
- Date: Tuesday, July 1
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami, FL
- Live stream: Watch on DAZN (for free)
- Odds: Real Madrid -150; Draw +290; Juventus +380
Past Meetings
This upcoming match will be the 22nd encounter between Juventus and Real Madrid, who have previously only met in the European Cup and Champions League competitions. Madrid holds the advantage in the head-to-head record, winning 11 and losing only two matches. Crucially, they emerged victorious in the two most significant encounters: a 1-0 win in Amsterdam in 1998, securing their first European Cup in 32 years, and a dominant 4-1 victory in Cardiff in 2017. Their most recent meetings were in the following season`s quarterfinals, marked by Cristiano Ronaldo`s spectacular bicycle kick as part of a 3-0 first-leg win, which provided enough cushion for the holders to survive a determined comeback in the second leg.
Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, Dean Huijsen; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Arda Guler, Fran Garcia; Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior
Juventus: Michele Di Gregorio; Pierre Kalulu, Nicolo Savona, Lloyd Kelly; Alberto Costa, Weston McKennie, Khephren Thuram, Andrea Cambiaso; Francisco Conceicao, Kenan Yildiz; Randal Kolo Muani
Player to Watch
Dean Huijsen, Real Madrid: If Juventus had exercised more patience in the summer of 2024, Huijsen might have been featuring for them in the Club World Cup. Instead, they profited from the now Spain international, whom they initially signed for their Under-17s and sold to Bournemouth for approximately $20 million. Just twelve months later, Bournemouth more than tripled their investment when Huijsen moved to Real Madrid, where he appears to have adapted quickly. Unfortunately for Juventus, the same cannot be said for the former Bournemouth player they acquired that summer, Lloyd Kelly, who has yet to significantly impress since his transfer to Italy.
Storyline to Watch
Whither Rodrygo? As clubs express interest in Real Madrid players, Rodrygo`s position in the squad becomes increasingly uncertain. If the 3-5-2 formation recently favored by Alonso becomes permanent, it`s difficult to envision the Brazilian`s place in the starting eleven, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold seemingly locked into the right wing-back role he might potentially occupy. Having played less than 90 minutes so far, will Rodrygo be given an opportunity to prove his capabilities in this important fixture?
Prediction
Neither team has been particularly spectacular in the Club World Cup yet, but Real Madrid possesses the inherent quality that suggests they can elevate their performance when necessary. They are expected to secure the victory. PICK: Real Madrid 2, Juventus 0
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