Miami, July 2(HS): Real Madrid triumphed over Juventus FC 1-0 at Hard Rock Stadium, advancing to the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, thanks to a brilliant header from Gonzalo Garcia in the 54th minute. Under coach Xabi Alonso, the Madrid squad displayed formidable performance, while star forward Kylian Mbappé made his tournament debut as a substitute in the 68th minute after recovering from illness.

The first half featured a balanced match; Juventus, coached by Igor Tudor, started aggressively, with Randal Kolo Muani missing an early scoring chance. Kenan Yıldız's powerful shot was deflected by Aurélien Tchouaméni. Real Madrid gradually took control, with Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde testing Juventus's goalkeeper, Di Gregorio, but the score remained 0-0 at halftime

The second half saw continued pressure from Real, with Bellingham passing to Valverde, whose shot narrowly missed. Gonzalo finally scored the decisive goal from a well-timed header off a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, marking his third goal in four matches. Juventus sought to respond, with Francisco Conceição's shot saved by Thibaut Courtois, and Valverde’s overhead kick also thwarted. After Mbappé's introduction, Juventus pushed forward but could not level the score, and Güler's shot was blocked late in the game. Ultimately, Gonzalo's solitary goal secured the victory for Real Madrid.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar