Tuesday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium features a rematch of past Champions League finals as Real Madrid takes on Juventus in the Club World Cup Round of 16. After a shaky start that included a draw with Al-Hilal, Madrid secured the top spot in Group H with comfortable victories over Pachuca and Salzburg. Federico Valverde was instrumental, scoring twice as Xabi Alonso`s tactical adjustments began to yield positive results.
Juventus had an even more impressive start, earning dominant wins against Al Ain and Wydad Casablanca, leading some to label the Old Lady as potential dark horses in the tournament. However, these aspirations may have been tempered following their significant 5-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Coach Igor Tudor might argue he fielded a heavily rotated squad with an eye on a potential meeting with Madrid in the next round. Now, the outcome of his selection choices in Orlando will become apparent.
The Italian side will undoubtedly be considered underdogs against Madrid, but perhaps this encounter in the Club World Cup will differ from their numerous high-stakes Champions League clashes. Could this finally be the day the Bianconeri exact revenge for their defeats in the 1998 and 2017 finals?
Past Meetings
This match marks the 22nd competitive encounter between Juventus and Real Madrid, with all previous meetings occurring in the European Cup or Champions League. Madrid holds the historical advantage, having won 11 matches compared to Juventus` two victories. Crucially, Real Madrid emerged victorious in the two most significant fixtures: the 1-0 win in Amsterdam in 1998, securing their first European Cup in 32 years, and the commanding 4-1 win in Cardiff in 2017. Their most recent clashes were in the following season`s quarterfinals, where Cristiano Ronaldo`s spectacular bicycle kick was part of a 3-0 first-leg win, providing the holders with sufficient cushion to withstand a spirited comeback attempt 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, Dean Huijsen might have been lining up for them in this very Club World Cup match. Instead, they capitalized on the young player, who was signed for their Under-17s and later sold to Bournemouth for approximately $20 million. Just twelve months later, the Cherries more than tripled their investment by selling Huijsen 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 shine in Italy.
Storyline to Watch
Rodrygo`s Role: As potential suitors reportedly show interest in Real Madrid players, it becomes increasingly uncertain how Rodrygo fits into the current setup. If the 3-5-2 formation recently utilized by Alonso remains the preferred system, it is challenging to envision where the Brazilian forward slots into the starting eleven, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold seemingly locked in for the right wing-back position where Rodrygo might otherwise feature. Having played less than 90 minutes in total recently, will Rodrygo be given an opportunity to demonstrate his qualities in this significant match?
Prediction
Neither side has been particularly electrifying in the Club World Cup thus far, but Real Madrid possesses the inherent quality to suggest they can elevate their performance. They should be capable of securing a win in this fixture.
PICK: Real Madrid 2, Juventus 0
