Match details
- Date: Tuesday, 1 July 2025
- Location: Florida, USA
- Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT, 21:00 CET, 12:00 PST, 15:00 EST
- TV/Streaming: UK – DAZN UK, US – DAZN USA
What’s at stake
There will be extra time, and the potential for the lottery of penalty shoot-out should the clash finish all square. Yet Juventus will be the underdogs, as they have looked fragile at the back throughout the tournament.
Juve got away with their shortcomings against Al-Ain FC and Wydad AC. Their defensive line was punished by Manchester City, with only superb stops from keeper Michele Di Gregorio sparing the blushes.
Finishing runner-up in Group G has handed the Bianconeri a mouth-watering last 16 showdown with Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants whalloped RB Saltzburg 3-0 with a new tactical formation in their last match, and are brimming with confidence under unbeaten manager Xabi Alonso.
Juve are desperate to be further involved in the highly-lucrative 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, for the sake of prestige as well as earning big bucks that could be used towards a much-needed summer revamp.
Their Club World Cup debut got off to a flyer and even against City they managed to score twice, with striker Dusan Vlahovic bagging his second goal of the tournament.
Yet Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz poses the biggest threat to Real, with new center-back Dean Huijsen probably given the duty to man-mark his former Juve team-mate out of the tie.
Huijsen, who claims he was discarded with abundance by the Bianconeri’s boss Thiago Motta, has the opportunity to show the Turin titans what they missed out on.
Recent form
Tudor only lost once in his nine Serie A games at the helm, masterminding back-to-back victories to secure Champions League soccer.
His first foray at the Club World Cup was a comfortable 5-0 triumph over UAE’s Al-Ain FC in Washington D.C., which was followed by a flattering 4-1 result against Morocco heavyweights Wydad AC.
Juve played second fiddle to City, who soared to a 5-2 victory, which crushed their self-belief. Tudor will have to tactically outwit Alonso tactically to stand any chance of Juve being thumped.
Alonso’s Real career has kicked off by being thrown into the cauldron of the month-long tournament, yet not utilized his highly successful 3-4-2-1 formation at Bayer Leverkusen.
Real went for a 4-3-3 set-up for their first two group games. They were held 1-1 by Simone Inzaghi’s Al-Hilal and cruised past Mexico outfit CF Pachuca. An attacking 3-5-2 approach for the must-win showdown against Saltzburg saw them soar to victory to top their group.
Team news
The only players who had a hand in at least one goal in all three group games are Yildiz and Real’s Gonzalo Garcia.
Yildiz found the back of the net three times in his first two matches and, as a second-half substitute against City, set up Vladovic’s goal. Yet the 20-year-old was constantly scolded by his team-mate, so the pair may not both start if there’s any sign of friction.
Juve are missing injured keeper Mattia Perin as well as defensive duo Juan Cabal and Nicolo Savona, who was sidelined for a month following his ankle injury against City. Center-back Bremer and striker Arkadiusz Milik were on the bench against City following long-term injury absences.
Garcia, on target twice and providing a goal assist in the group games, has been Alonso’s find in the United States. The boss has rotated his squad to push stars like Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr. to produce their best.
Center-back Eder Militao, out since November with a knee injury, and talisman forward Kylian Mbappe (gastroenteritis) have been training. Defender Raul Asencio is available after serving his one-match suspension.
Head-to-head
Real have beaten Juventus 10 times, with two draws and the Bianconeri taking the honors on nine occasions.
Their past 10 encounters favor the Italian outfit, who won half of those games with two stalemates and three Real triumphs.
Players to watch
Juventus — Kenan Yildiz
Rested for the first-half of the City hammering, Yildiz stood head and shoulders above his outfield team-mates when introduced.
Yildiz’s breakthrough season saw him thrive under Motta, his form dipped but he soon got his groove back when Tudor joined in mid-March. With three spectacular performances at the Club World Cup, it is no wonder that Juve have repeatedly issued a hands off policy to his admirers.
Tudor likes his wingers to attack full throttle, and if Yildiz can get some space then expect some more fireworks from the youngster.
Real Madrid — Gonzalo Garcia
The marksman impressed former Real manager Carlo Ancelotti with his accuracy, agility, and scoring prowess. He was expected to be moved on by the recent arrival of Alonso, but has excelled under the spotlight.
Juve have been warned. The Spanish 21-year-old scored the first goal under Alonso’s reign against Al-Hilal, was involved in two of the three goals against Pachuca, and made the scoresheet again against Salzburg.
Expected line-ups
Juventus possible starting XI:
Di Gregorio; Bremer, Kelly, Kalulu; Costa, Thuram, McKennie, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; Muani
Real Madrid possible starting XI:
Courtois; Tchouameni, Rudiger, Huijsen; Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, Guler, Valverde, F.Garcia; Vinicius, G.Garcia
Old Juve prediction
Juventus 1 Real Madrid 3
The European titans face-off for the first time since Juventus swept aside Real Madrid in the 2017/18 Champions League quarter-finals. The Italians were underdogs then and are expected to be rolled over in this clash.
Real are on an unbeaten run of six games and an out-of-sorts Juventus side doesn’t appear likely to end their streak.
Bellingham, Garcia, Valverde and Vinicius Jr. have all scored in the prestigious tournament for Real, and that’s before goal-machine Mbappe returns to the team.