Alexander-Arnold creates winner as Real beat Juve to make CWC QFs

5 days ago 4

Trent Alexander-Arnold created the only goal for Gonzalo Garcia as Real Madrid beat Juventus 1-0 to progress to the Club World Cup quarter-finals.

Real Madrid, still without Kylian Mbappe from the start as the France striker continued his recovery from gastroenteritis, had to wait until nine minutes into the second half to finally break down Juventus' resistance at the Hard Rock Stadium.

The Spanish side's pressure had gradually been growing after a sluggish start in the Miami heat and it came as no surprise when they made the breakthrough.

Real Madrid's Gonzalo Garcia celebrates after scoring against Juventus at the Club World Cup

Alexander-Arnold, afforded too much time and space on the right side of the box, picked out his team-mate in the middle, his inch-point centre headed home from close range by Garcia for the 21-year-old forward's third goal of the competition.

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Kylian Mbappe started on the bench after being passed fit for this one as Xabi Alonso named an unchanged XI from the team that beat Red Bull Salzburg last time out.

Igor Tudor made six changes from his side's loss to Man City. Di Gregorio, Kalulu, Kelly, Costa and Locatelli were the only players who survived.

There were wholesale changes up front, with Kolo Muani, Yildiz and Coceicao leading the line in a front three.

The Serie A side had threatened early on and Randal Kolo Muani really should have opened the scoring when clean through on goal, but, faced with just Thibaut Courtois to beat, the Frenchman's lob was just off target.

That warning shot appeared to wake Madrid up, with Xabi Alonso's side dominating thereafter as Jude Bellingham twice went close, as did new signing from Bournemouth Dean Huijsen, before Mbappe was introduced late on for his first outing this summer in the US.

Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio saves a shot from Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham

Real's victory has now set up the possibility of a Bellingham derby in the last eight if Jobe's Borussia Dortmund team can get the better of Monterrey later on Tuesday night.