It is the match of the Round of 16 as two historic European Powerhouses are set to pit their wits against each other. Spanish giants Real Madrid and Italian powerhouses Juventus face off for a spot in the last 8 of the FIFA Club World Cup and it is set to be a cracker of a contest.
Here is our preview and prediction for the game.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Round of 16: Real Madrid vs Juventus | 00:30 AM IST, 2nd July
Real Madrid have once again shown the world why they should not be taken lightly in any tournament as they once again overcame a sloppy start to show why they are a force to be reckoned with.
After what was a very sloppy, disjointed, and under-par performance in their opening game against Al-Hilal, it was evident that they had to improve and improve fast. And that is exactly what happened.
After that lacklustre 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal, they rallied back impressively to get the better of Mexican side Pachuca with an all-round performance from everyone in the side. While the game was overshadowed with alleged racial abuse directed at Antonio Rüdiger, the performance was something that could be built on for the later stages.
The performance against RB Salzburg was the best of the lot, with the players turning up the style and flair on the pitch. It was just the type of performance needed to warm up for the knockout stages.
Real Madrid will be hoping that forward Kylian Mbappe is fit for the clash after missing the entire group stage due to a severe gastric infection. They will also hope that Jude Bellingham continues his spate of commanding performances as Los Blancos look to go all the way in this tournament.
For Juventus, it was arguably the best start that they could have imagined with a rousing 5-0 victory over UAE side Al-Ain. They were fresh, rejuvenated and were full of verve as they put their opponents to the sword. They continued their attacking flamboyance in the second game against Wydad AC as well, as they thumped another 4 goals past the Moroccan side without really breaking much of a sweat.
However, all the early optimism and confidence came crashing down as they were ransacked by Manchester city in what was a straight face-off for top spot. They were cut to ribbons by Pep Guardiola’s side as they went down with a comprehensive 5-2 scoreline.
The City game laid bare the problems that the Old Lady had at the back. While they do not have a problem in putting the ball in the back of the net, it is keeping the ball out from their net that they struggle with.
Juventus’ attack vs Real Madrid’s defense. Bellingham’s class vs Yildiz’s flair. It is a match with many interesting sub-plots and we cannot wait for it to be unleashed on the pitch.
We believe that Real Madrid will be the favourites to win and progress to the next round.
Score Prediction- Real Madrid 3-1 Juventus
Venue- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida.
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