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.
Alexander-Arnold, afforded too much time and space on the right side of the box, picked out his team-mate in the middle with an inch-point centre that was headed home from close range by Garcia, the 21-year-old forward’s third goal of the competition.
The Serie A side threatened early on and Randal Kolo Muani 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 woke Madrid up, with Xabi Alonso’s side dominating thereafter as Jude Bellingham twice went close, so did new signing from Bournemouth Dean Huijsen, before Mbappe was introduced late on for his first outing this summer in the US.
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.
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