As the group stage of the Club World Cup nears its end, Real Madrid is set to face RB Salzburg in Philadelphia on Thursday. Qualification for the last 16 is not yet secured for the Spanish giants. A win in this match would see them advance as group winners, while a draw could also be enough, depending on the outcome of the Al-Hilal versus Pachuca fixture. However, manager Xabi Alonso will be without a key member of the squad, as striker Kylian Mbappe is unavailable for the encounter.
Mbappe spent time in the hospital during the group stage due to acute gastroenteritis. He was discharged almost a week ago and has since returned to training. Considering the high temperatures that have been a factor in these games, the decision has been made to approach his recovery cautiously. There is a possibility he could be fit for the round of 16, but the focus for now is on taking things slowly.
Commenting on the situation, Alonso stated, “I was glad to see him on the pitch but it`s the first time he was running around, but he`s not fully recovered yet. He still has a weak spot in order to play [Thursday], at least at the competitive level that we`ll need him. After the training session, we were talking and he hopes to have an improved recovery if we make it to the round of 16. He hopes he`ll be available, but he`s still in the recovery process. He`s not yet at 100 for next time.”
Mbappe is expected to be a critical player for Real Madrid in the knockout rounds. In his debut season, he scored 40 goals and provided four assists across all competitions. With silverware the target, this tournament represents an opportunity to finish the season strongly before the offseason begins.
In Mbappe`s absence, young striker Gonzalo Garcia is expected to make his third consecutive start for Los Blancos in the tournament. The 21-year-old has made a significant impact with a goal and an assist in his first two appearances, despite featuring in only four senior matches before this competition. As Alonso continues to evaluate his squad, he has been integrating players from the Real Madrid youth system, including Garcia. Interestingly, Rodrygo has not been deployed as a false nine without Mbappe, which has fueled rumors about the Brazilian`s potential departure and Alonso exploring alternative attacking options.
Predicted Lineups
RB Salzburg: Christian Zawieschitzky, Stefan Lainer, Joane Gadou, Jacob Rasmussen, Frans Kratzig, Mads Bidstrup, Soumaila Diabate, Nene Dorgeles, Oscar Gloukh, Edmund Baidoo, Karim Onisiwo
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, Fran Garcia, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior
Match Details & Odds
- Date: Thursday, June 26 | Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Live stream: Watch on DAZN (for free)
- Odds: RB Salzburg +750; Draw +490; Real Madrid -370
Group H Scenarios
Real Madrid can advance to the round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against RB Salzburg
- A loss to RB Salzburg AND Al-Hilal draws or loses to Pachuca
RB Salzburg can advance to the round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Real Madrid
- A loss to Real Madrid AND Al-Hilal loses to Pachuca
Al-Hilal can advance to the round of 16 with:
- A win against Pachuca AND either Real Madrid loses to RB Salzburg OR RB Salzburg loses to Real Madrid
Pachuca: Eliminated from the competition
Predicted Score
Real Madrid`s attack finds its rhythm, securing a win to top the group and carry momentum into the knockout stage. Pick: Real Madrid 3, RB Salzburg 1.
