On Tuesday, Real Madrid and Juventus will reignite their longstanding rivalry as they face off in Miami during the Round of 16 of the Club World Cup. This highly anticipated match raises questions among fans regarding the participation of Kylian Mbappé, who has been sidelined due to acute gastroenteritis.
Juventus, after securing victories in their initial group-stage matches against Al Ain and Wydad, faltered against Manchester City, suffering a significant 2-5 defeat. This loss positioned them in second place in Group G and set up a challenging encounter with Los Blancos, who topped Group H with ease.
Real Madrid’s new manager, Xabi Alonso, expressed hope for Mbappé’s return, emphasizing the importance of his presence on the team. While Alonso was unable to assure fans of Mbappé’s availability for the match, he remained optimistic about the striker’s recovery. “We need Kylian, obviously,” Alonso stated, highlighting the striker’s status as one of the best in the world.
Moreover, Alonso’s tactical insights suggest that both Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. can coexist effectively on the pitch. He described plans for integrating both players into the team’s strategy, which could trouble Juventus’s defense, especially after their recent struggles against Manchester City.
With both teams eager to secure a win, the clash promises to deliver an exciting showcase of talent and strategy reflective of their historic rivalry. The anticipation around Mbappé’s potential return adds an extra layer of excitement to an already thrilling match-up.