This Tuesday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium, we see a rematch reminiscent of several Champions League finals as Real Madrid takes on Juventus in the Club World Cup Round of 16. After a difficult start to the tournament, drawing with Al-Hilal, Madrid comfortably secured the top spot in Group H with solid victories over Pachuca and Salzburg. Federico Valverde netted twice, highlighting the positive impact of Xabi Alonso`s tactical tweaks.
Juventus began the competition even more impressively, with dominant wins against Al Ain and Wydad Casablanca, leading some to speculate if the Old Lady could be the tournament`s dark horse. However, such thoughts might be premature following their heavy 5-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Coach Igor Tudor could argue he fielded a heavily rotated side with one eye on a potential clash with Madrid in the next round. It remains to be seen if his selection gamble in Orlando will prove worthwhile.
The Italian side will certainly be the underdogs against Madrid. However, perhaps this encounter will differ from their many high-stakes Champions League matchups. Could this finally be the day the Bianconeri get revenge for their defeats in the 1998 and 2017 finals?
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 match will be the 22nd encounter between Juventus and Real Madrid; all previous meetings were in the European Cup or Champions League. Madrid holds the historical advantage, winning 11 and losing only two. Crucially, they were victorious in the two most significant clashes: a 1-0 win in Amsterdam in 1998 to secure their first European Cup in 32 years, and a dominant 4-1 victory in Cardiff in 2017. Their most recent competitive ties were in the following season`s quarterfinals, where Cristiano Ronaldo`s spectacular bicycle kick was part of a 3-0 first-leg win, providing enough of a cushion for the holders to withstand a spirited fightback 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: Had Juventus shown more patience in the summer of 2024, Huijsen could have been playing for them in the Club World Cup. Instead, they capitalized on the now Spain international, signed originally for their Under-17s and sold to Bournemouth for around $20 million. Twelve months later, the Cherries more than tripled their investment, as Huijsen moved to Real Madrid, where he appears to have settled in quickly. Unfortunately for Juventus, the same cannot be said for the former Bournemouth player they acquired that summer, Lloyd Kelly, who has yet to excel since arriving in Italy.
Storyline to Watch
Whither Rodrygo? With other clubs reportedly interested in Real Madrid players, it`s becoming increasingly difficult to envision Rodrygo`s place in the team. If the 3-5-2 formation recently favored by Alonso is here to stay, the Brazilian`s spot in the starting eleven is unclear, particularly with Trent Alexander-Arnold seemingly a guaranteed starter at right wing-back – a role Rodrygo might otherwise occupy. Having played less than 90 minutes in the tournament so far, will Rodrygo get an opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities in this significant match?
Prediction
Neither team has particularly sparkled in the Club World Cup thus far, but at least Madrid possess the inherent quality to suggest they can. They are expected to get the job done. Prediction: Real Madrid 2, Juventus 0
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