Gonzalo García of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal against Juventus in a round of 16 match at the FIFA Club World Cup at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, July 1, 2025. /VCG
Gonzalo García of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal against Juventus in a round of 16 match at the FIFA Club World Cup at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, July 1, 2025. /VCG
Breakout tournament star Gonzalo García scored his third goal of the FIFA Club World Cup on Tuesday afternoon, powering Real Madrid past Juventus 1-0 in the round of 16 in Miami, and through to the quarterfinals.
Garcia has started all four of the Spanish side's matches, after a gastrointestinal illness sidelined star striker Kylian Mbappe. The 21-year-old broke a second-half stalemate with a header in the 54th minute, giving him a goal contribution in every game in the first-ever 32-team edition of the competition.
New coach Xabi Alonso substituted out Garcia to send in Mbappe in the 68th minute, marking the French forward's Club World Cup debut after he was briefly hospitalized with gastroenteritis, and missed Real Madrid's three group stage contests.
Garcia's header came after Los Blancos had forced Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio into consecutive spectacular saves in the opening minutes of the second half. An incredible performance by the Bianconeri's shot-stopper, who made 10 saves, kept the match close.
The first half was scoreless and evenly contested, the first time either team had been held without a goal in the opening 45 minutes at this event. Both sides had solid chances, including Randal Kolo Muani's effort that went over the bar seven minutes in for the Italian squad, and Federico Valverde's shot that was denied by Di Gregorio shortly before the break.
Real Madrid's opponents in the quarterfinals will be Germany's Borussia Dortmund, who edged past Mexico's Monterrey 2-1 in the late game in Atlanta.
Source(s): AP