Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid finished top in Group H to set up this fixture against Juventus, who could only manage a second place in Group G. Both teams have a squad full of superstars, and this promises to be a high-voltage encounter which could go either way.
While Los Blancos started off their CWC campaign with a disappointing draw against Al-Hilal, consecutive wins over Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg were more than enough to help them finish top of their group.
It is still early days for Alonso at Madrid, but he has already had a significant impact on the kind of football the team in white plays. They have been quite impressive so far, but this game against Juventus will be a massive challenge for them. It could give a fair idea of what’s to come for Los Blancos in the new season.
The Old Lady started their campaign with a massive 5-0 win over Al-Ain and backed it up with another 4-1 win over Wydad AC. However, a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City meant they had to settle for the second-place finish in the group.
While the defeat against City was a massive blow, they do have a strong enough squad to bounce back and hurt Real Madrid. Igor Tudor, who took charge of Juventus towards the end of last season, will be eager to make a statement by knocking out the Spanish giants. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
While Endirck has joined the squad and Kylian Mbappe is back in training, they might only feature in the squad for this fixture. Antonio Rudiger should be available after being taken off in the second half of their last outing because of cramps.
However, Los Blancos do remain without the likes of David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga, and Ferland Mendy.
Real Madrid could once again line up in a 3-5-2 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will be in goal. Aurelien Tchouameni will partner with Rudiger and Dean Huijsen in central defence.
Fran Garcia and Trent Alexander-Arnold will feature as the wing-backs. In the centre of the park, skipper Federico Valverde should partner with Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham. The trio will look to control the tempo and ensure they dominate the ball.
In the final third, Vinicius should partner with in-form Gonzalo Garcia, with Mbappe expected to have a cameo off the bench.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Courtois; Tchouameni, Rudiger, Huijsen; Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, Guler, Valverde, Fran Garcia; Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius
Igor Tudor remains without the services of Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer. Following their defeat at the hands of City, he will certainly make a few changes to his team ahead of this fixture against Real Madrid.
Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao and Randal Kolo Muani are all expected to make a return to the XI. Meanwhile, Andrea Cambiaso could also feature on the left flank as the wing-back.
The Old Lady will line up in a 3-4-3 formation, where Michele Di Gregorio will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Pierre Kalulu, Nicolo Savona and Lloyd Kelly. The trio will look to keep things tight at the back and will receive significant support from Alberto Costa and Andrea Cambiaso, who will feature as the wing-backs.
In the centre of the park, Weston McKennie and Khephren Thuram will look to control the tempo and ensure Madrid midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao will take up the flanks, while Randal Kolo Muani will be leading the line.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Di Gregorio; Savona, Kelly, Kalulu; Costa, Thuram, McKennie, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Kolo Muani, Yildiz
Guler got limited game time under Carlo Ancelotti last season, but he still managed to contribute towards 14 goals. He is certainly a top talent, and it is becoming more evident with every opportunity that he has had under Xabi Alonso.
The 20-year-old winger has started all three of their Club World Cup games. He has taken up the role of a central midfielder under the Spanish manager and has certainly put in some impressive performances. Guler not only possesses exceptional vision and a keen eye for goal, but more importantly, he can dictate the tempo, something that could be crucial in helping them dominate the Old Lady on Tuesday.
Real Madrid head into this clash as slight favourites, having grown in confidence with every game in the tournament. Xabi Alonso’s tactical tweaks have added a new dimension to their play, and the Spanish giants look well-balanced despite a few key injuries. With the likes of Bellingham, Guler, and Vinicius in top form and the potential addition of Mbappe off the bench, they should have enough firepower to trouble the Juventus backline.
That said, the Italian giants should not be taken lightly. Despite the setback against Manchester City, they have shown they can be dangerous going forward. The return of key players to the starting XI could give them an edge, especially in transitions.
However, Madrid’s control in midfield and the technical quality across the pitch could prove too much for the Italian giants to handle over 90 minutes. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Los Blancos.
