Who needs Mbappe? – Garcia scores third Club World Cup goal for Real Madrid as France star watches from bench
Gonzalo Garcia gave Real Madrid the lead against Juventus before Kylian Mbappe made his return to action.
Kylian Mbappe was named in the Real Madrid squad for a game for a first time at the Club World Cup in their last-16 clash with Juventus, but it was the man who has deputised for him in the tournament who broke the deadlock in Miami.
With Mbappe named on the bench after missing the first three games due to gastroenteritis, Gonzalo Garcia was once again picked to lead the line for Madrid.
He had few opportunities to make an impact in the first half, with Madrid largely reduced to efforts from long range.
But Madrid had a greater measure of control in the second half, and they took the lead in the 54th minute when Garcia rose to powerfully head home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s right-wing cross.
It marked Garcia’s third goal of an impressive tournament and, though he was soon replaced by the returning Mbappe, it seems likely the 21-year-old will be a part of Xabi Alonso’s plans in 2025-26 after his talismanic showing in the United States.