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Salzburg v Real Madrid: Line-ups, stats and preview

Real Madrid need a point against Salzburg to make sure of their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup. Read our in-depth preview here...

Written by Jon Fisher
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Salzburg v Real Madrid: Line-ups, stats and preview

Preview for Salzburg v Real Madrid

Real Madrid head into tomorrow night’s game against Salzburg looking to repeat their thrashing of the Austrian side in January.

Xabi Alonso’s men require a point to advance to the last 16 of the Club World Cup but will look to make sure of top spot in Group H with a victory.

The omens are good after Madrid recorded a 5-1 win against the same opposition at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League group phase five months ago.

It will, however, be a different Madrid that line up at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen make up half of a revamped back four while Alonso has replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout.

The onus will still be on the Spanish giants to win the game and Salzburg forward Dorgeles Nene accepts his side have nothing to lose.

“We have improved since that game in Madrid,” he told AS. “The circumstances at the Bernabéu were not ideal… but we have progressed, we are a different team and this game starts at 0-0…”

Salzburg go into the clash having accumulated four points from their first two games. However, with third-placed Al-Hilal facing already-eliminated Pachuca, there remains the danger they will miss out.

Vinicius Jr scored twice against Salzburg in January but continues to look out of sorts.

The Brazil international has not found the back of the net for Madrid since the Champions League clash with Arsenal on April 16 and finished the season looking jaded.

Team News for Salzburg v Real Madrid

Madrid will continue to monitor the fitness of Kylian Mbappe ahead of the game.

The French striker was admitted to hospital with acute gastroenteritis last week but released on Saturday. He missed Madrid’s second game of the tournament against Pachuca but Alonso has refused to rule him out of the Salzburg game.

However, it seems highly unlikely Mbappe will be risked, particularly with high temperatures predicted again for Philadelphia tomorrow night.

Gonzalo Garcia will start again up front with Mbappe potentially fit enough to take a seat on the bench.

Alonso will have to make at least one change with defender Raul Asencio suspended following his early red card against Pachuca. Antonio Rudiger is his likely replacement as he builds up fitness after an injury-enforced absence.

Salzburg midfielder Takumu Kawamura’s knee injury means he has left the United States and returned to Austria.

Alexander Schlager and Moussa Yeo are also out while Oscar Gloukh could return in place of Sota Kitano.

Predicted line-ups for Salzburg v Real Madrid

Salzburg: Zawieschitzky; Lainer, Gadou, Ramussen, Kratzig; Bidstrup, Diabate; Nene, Gloukh; Onisiwo, Baidoo

Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Guler, Vinicius Jr, Garcia

How to watch Salzburg v Real Madrid

Salzburg versus Real Madrid kicks off at 2am UK time in the early hours of Friday morning.

You can stream it on DAZN and watch via the bet365 app.

Stats for Salzburg v Real Madrid

  • Salzburg have won just five of 24 games against Spanish sides in all competitions

Prediction for Salzburg v Real Madrid

Madrid rarely falter when the pressure is on and it’s impossible to imagine them not getting the point they need to qualify.

They have the stronger XI and also reserves on the bench should things not be going their way.

Salzburg will have one eye on the Al-Hilal-Pachuca game so they know what they have to do.

Prediction: Salzburg 1-3 Real Madrid

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