
Real Madrid edges Juventus to move into Club World Cup quarterfinals
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a precise cross from the right, allowing Garcia to nod home from close range. The 21-year-old now has three goals and one assist in four tournament matches.
Persistent rain in the Hard Rock Stadium area eased shortly before kickoff, avoiding further delays after earlier weather disruptions during the tournament.
Juventus made six changes to its starting lineup, with Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao and Randal Kolo Muani replacing Nicolas Gonzalez, Teun Koopmeiners and Dusan Vlahovic in the attack.
Real Madrid welcomed back star forward Kylian Mbappe, who was named as a substitute after having missed the group stage with gastroenteritis.
Despite Madrid controlling early possession, Juventus carved out the sharper chances. Yildiz intercepted a pass and surged through midfield to slip Kolo Muani through on goal, but the French forward lifted his effort over the bar. Yildiz threatened again minutes later, forcing a corner with a deflected shot.
Jude Bellingham nearly opened the scoring for Madrid in the 29th minute, but Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio produced a reflex save to deny him from Alexander-Arnold's cutback. Di Gregorio kept his side in the match with another close-range stop to deny Federico Valverde just before halftime.
The Italian keeper continued his strong performance after the break, parrying efforts from both Bellingham and Dean Huijsen, but was finally beaten by Garcia's decisive header.
Garcia made way in the 68th minute for Mbappe, who made his Club World Cup debut.
Late saves from Di Gregorio kept Juventus in contention, but the Serie A side failed to find an equalizer against Madrid's disciplined defense.
Real Madrid will face either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey - who play later Tuesday night - in Saturday's quarterfinal in New York.
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