Tuesday afternoon sees a familiar clash at Hard Rock Stadium, reminiscent of past Champions League finals, as Real Madrid meets Juventus in the Club World Cup round of 16. Real Madrid overcame a shaky start, which included a draw against Al-Hilal, to secure first place in Group H. They achieved this with solid victories over Pachuca and Salzburg, notably with Federico Valverde scoring twice as Xabi Alonso`s tactical changes took effect.
Juventus began the tournament more impressively, with dominant wins against Al Ain and Wydad Casablanca, leading some to consider them potential dark horses. However, that optimism may be tempered by their recent 5-2 defeat to Manchester City. Coach Igor Tudor might argue he heavily rotated his squad in that match, perhaps prioritizing a potential future clash with Madrid. The upcoming match will reveal if that strategic choice in Orlando was justified.
Juventus enters this match as the clear underdog against Real Madrid. Yet, this encounter could differ from their many high-stakes Champions League battles. Could this finally be the opportunity for the Bianconeri to avenge their defeats from the 1998 and 2017 finals?
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, July 1
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami, FL
- Odds: Real Madrid -150; Draw +290; Juventus +380
Head-to-Head Record
This upcoming fixture marks the 22nd meeting between Juventus and Real Madrid, with all prior encounters occurring in the European Cup or Champions League. Real Madrid holds the historical advantage, having won 11 matches and lost only two. Significantly, they triumphed in the two most crucial finals: a 1-0 victory in Amsterdam in 1998, securing their first European Cup in 32 years, and a dominant 4-1 win in Cardiff in 2017. Their most recent clashes were in the subsequent season`s quarterfinals, where Cristiano Ronaldo`s memorable bicycle kick contributed to a 3-0 first-leg lead, providing the holders just enough margin to withstand a determined second-leg comeback.
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
Key Player Spotlight
Dean Huijsen, Real Madrid: Interestingly, Dean Huijsen could potentially have been playing for Juventus in this tournament had they held onto him in the summer of 2024. Instead, they decided to profit from the young player, now a Spain international, who initially joined their Under-17s and was sold to Bournemouth for approximately $20 million. Just a year later, Bournemouth significantly increased their return as Huijsen made the switch to Real Madrid, where he appears to be adapting quickly. In contrast, the former Bournemouth player Juventus acquired that same summer, Lloyd Kelly, has reportedly not yet found his best form in Italy.
Key Narrative
Rodrygo`s Role: With speculation surrounding player movements at Real Madrid, Rodrygo`s place in the team becomes increasingly uncertain. If Xabi Alonso`s recent adoption of a 3-5-2 formation becomes permanent, it`s difficult to envision where the Brazilian forward fits into the starting lineup, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold appearing to be the preferred choice for the right wing-back position where Rodrygo might otherwise be deployed. Having played less than 90 minutes recently, will Rodrygo be given an opportunity in this significant match to demonstrate his value?
Match Prediction
Neither team has truly impressed in the Club World Cup thus far, but Real Madrid certainly possesses the inherent quality to perform when needed. They are expected to secure the victory in this fixture.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2, Juventus 0
Dominic Ashworth