Real Madrid face Juventus in the battle to reach the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup.
The biggest question ahead of the match centered around Kylian Mbappé. At the press conference, coach Xabi Alonso shared hopeful news. There’s a strong possibility Mbappé will feature against Juventus, giving Real Madrid a boost as they fight for a quarter-final spot.
Mbappé missed all group stage matches of the tournament due to illness. Tuesday’s clash against Juventus could mark the French star’s debut in this competition.
Before every match, Alonso was asked about Mbappé’s status, but uncertainty remained. This time, however, he gave a clear positive signal about Mbappé’s return to the pitch.
“Kylian is feeling very good now. We speak with him every day. On match day morning, we’ll talk again and make the final decision.”
“There’s a very good chance this match will be his Club World Cup debut. I can’t say the exact percentage, but it’s definitely high.”
That’s not all the good news for Real Madrid. Experienced defender Dani Carvajal is finally ready to return after a long injury layoff. Defender Éder Militão is also close to making his comeback.
Alonso expressed excitement about their return but was cautious about rushing them back into action.
“Both Dani and Éder are coming back after a long recovery. This is definitely a big plus for us, and the whole team believes they are very close and could soon be involved in matches. In games like these, everyone matters — whether in the starting eleven or coming on to help.”
Since taking charge, the coach has stressed unity and team spirit, and his message remains the same ahead of Juventus.
“We are now in the knockout stage, facing a team like Juventus in the round of 16. To advance, we must deliver a complete performance.”
“We want to fight as one, with all 11 players fully committed whether we have the ball or not. Our united strength will help stars like Vinícius, Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Bellingham shine.”
The match kicks off at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida at 1:00 AM Bangladesh time on Tuesday night.
