Gonzalo García downs Juventus to send Real Madrid to Club World Cup quarters | Club World Cup 2025

Kylian Mbappé finally made his debut at this club World Cup while the competition enters the direct elimination phase, coming to Juventus two weeks and four games after being hospitalized with a stomach virus which saw him lose five pounds. But while Miami’s hard rock stadium chanted the name of the Frenchman, roaring while he was heading towards the road line, and stood to give him an ovation when he entered the fray, overflowing excitement, most of them had not heard a month ago, which had taken real Madrid in the quarter of the final.

For the whole emphasis on the most famous names, for this whole month, this experimental event needs it, each tournament has its revelation: this World Cup has a 21-year-old child Madrileño. “I knew that this competition was the opportunity of my life,” said Gonzalo García after having shown that it was the one he is determined and equipped, to be seized. The striker of the Real Madrid Academy, who had never started a match before arriving in the United States, scored his third goal here with a superb beaten head of a delicious delivery of Trent Alexander-Arnold, doing what no one else could no longer 90 minutes here: beat the goalkeeper of Juventus Michele Di Gregorio.

A family of rugby players, bulls and perhaps the most famous actor who has ever been – García’s grandfather was Heyworth’s cousin – also has a footballer, and he seems to be a player. Quite good, said the coach under 17, Hernán Pérez, to be the Madrid striker for a decade to come. With the permission of Mbappé, of course. Xabi Alonso loves him, it is sure, even if he admitted that he did not expect three goals from him, and García was superb in the United States. In a wet afternoon but mercifully without lightning in Miami where a Madrid team that progresses well continued to hit a wall, it was again decisive, organizing a meeting with Borussia Dortmund – Hi Jude, Hi Jobe – or Monterrey – Hi, Sergio Ramos – in the next round.

In the end, Madrid deserved it, by far the best side, Alonso praising his team’s ability to understand “when accelerating, when slowing down, how to control the game”. That said, it took a while to take control and the first moments of lighting came mainly from another child, Kenan Yildiz of Juventus, who often combined with Andrea Cambiaso and Randal Kolo Muani. The 20 -year -old – left -handed, the small, the socks half down, the lower back – was described by Kolo Muani as “magic” and there were times when he left his brand here.

He played a key role in what could have been the opener after six minutes, combining with Kolo Muani on the move which started by the Juventus region and reached Madrid. There, alone before Thibaut Courteous, Kolo Muani spread over him but fractionally on the bar too. Then, a neat turn saw Yildiz’s shot is wide, there was time that he slipped the ball between the legs of Alexander-Arnold, and the intelligent leg game moved away from the former defender of Liverpool and Antonio Rüdiger for the Camban. According to another delivery from Cambaso, Francisco Conceição led Juve’s second chance.

Madrid, playing with three central defenders, had control if not a huge incision in these first phases. Over half, the openings appeared and more and more often. In the midst of all this, Fede Valverde, as always, was fired everywhere. As he was removed, exhausted, to applaud in the 89th minute, the Uruguayan had accumulated seven. “He makes life easier,” said Alonso.

From one of them in the first half, Di Gregorio plunged the length entirely to save and the goalkeeper would have a busy afternoon, exceeding a leg when Valverde entered the area deeply and withdrew shortly after. Then, Arda Guller, becoming in the role of playmaker who is increasingly like becoming his permanent place, raised his marker and almost passed the ball. Just before the break, Alexander-Arnold did it, but his delivery ran right in the six yards box.

The second half started with Jude Bellingham by installing Valverde’s volley, which skidded and turned next door. And although Antonio Rüdiger and Courtois kicked as they slipped to an authorization, the Alonso team became above, soon dominating entirely. Trent fired on, Manuel Locatelli blocked Vinícius Júnior, and Bellingham and Dean Huijsen fired Di Gregorio stops. Then the goal came, the charming Sweet Cross of Alexander-Arnold by meeting the jump of García. Turning his neck, he struck the Di Gregorio who could not lift his arms quickly enough.

Madrid continued to come but the Italian pushed the kick over Valverde and released a leg to stop Guller’s shot after Vinícius and Mbappé opened Juventus. When he reached the end of Low Drive from Aurélien Tchouamméni, he took it two figures but there was no award. The only time he was beaten was sufficient, Madrid’s revelation there.