Real Madrid have booked their place in the Club World Cup quarterfinals after a narrow 1-0 victory over Italian giants Juventus, securing a spot among the final eight and pocketing a handsome $13.13 million (approx. RM55.36 million) in prize money.
Gonzalo Heads Home the Winner as Madrid Dominate
In the early hours of the morning (Malaysian time), the Spanish champions proved too strong for Juventus in their Round of 16 clash. Real Madrid controlled the game from start to finish, dominating possession (57%) and firing 21 shots compared to Juventus’ 6. Despite a heroic effort from Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, who made 10 crucial saves, he couldn’t keep out Gonzalo Garcia’s powerful header in the second half.
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Madrid’s recent signing Trent Arnold delivered a pinpoint cross from the right. Gonzalo, just 21 years old, rose highest to nod the ball into the back of the net, his third goal of the tournament and Arnold’s first assist since joining Los Blancos.
Gonzalo now has 3 goals and 1 assist in 4 appearances, and his outstanding performance earned him the Man of the Match award.
All eyes were on Kylian Mbappé, who made his long-awaited Club World Cup debut after recovering from a bout of acute gastroenteritis. He entered the match in the 68th minute, replacing goalscorer Gonzalo, but struggled to make an impact as he continues to regain full fitness.
Madrid Leads Tournament Earnings as Prize Pool Crosses $60M
With this win, Real Madrid becomes the seventh team to advance to the quarterfinals, securing $13.13 million in prize money, the highest amount earned by any club so far. The overall prize pool for this year’s Club World Cup has now surpassed $60 million (approx. RM252.99 million), setting a new benchmark for the competition.
Next up, Madrid will face Bundesliga powerhouse Borussia Dortmund, who defeated Mexican side Monterrey 2-1 to claim their spot in the last eight.
Alonso: “Tough Match, but We Were Outstanding”
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso praised his squad’s performance in a hard-fought game.
“I’m pleased with the result, the qualification, and the way we played,” said Alonso post-match. “After the opening 15 minutes, we started to take control. It was a difficult match, but the team performed exceptionally well.”
Alonso acknowledged the gruelling schedule: “We’re playing every three days, and the players are responding with maturity and determination. In this knockout match, we gradually found the gaps and used them to take control.”
He added, “Real Madrid players must understand what it means to compete. That’s part of our DNA; today, the team showed exactly that.”
Gonzalo: “Scoring Feels Good, but Winning Feels Even Better”
Alonso also had words of praise for the young match-winner.
“I’ve always believed in Gonzalo. I won’t say I predicted he’d score three goals in four games, but he’s made a huge impact. These are decisive goals, and he’s helped the team immensely.”
Gonzalo remained humble despite the praise:
“Of course, I’m happy to score, but I’m even happier that we won. We’re growing as a team, keeping control, staying patient, and seizing opportunities when they come.”
Juventus Crash Out, All Serie A Clubs Eliminated
With Juventus now out of the tournament, all Serie A clubs have been eliminated from this year’s Club World Cup. Inter Milan had previously fallen 0-2 to Brazilian side Fluminense in another Round of 16 fixture.
It marks the end of a disappointing season for Juventus, who finish the Club World Cup campaign in the Round of 16. Domestically, they finished fourth in Serie A, failed to advance past the Champions League knockout stage, and were eliminated in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals by Empoli, confirming a season without silverware.
Real Madrid continues to prove their pedigree on the world stage with a composed and commanding performance against Juventus. Gonzalo Garcia’s emergence as a rising star is one of the biggest takeaways of the tournament so far, while Mbappé’s subdued debut adds intrigue ahead of future matches. As Italian hopes fade, Madrid’s journey toward Club World Cup glory moves one step closer, next stop, Borussia Dortmund.
