For the first time ever, Real Madrid take on Juventus in a competitive fixture outside of the Champions League/European Cup, and the pair are playing for a spot in the Club World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday night.
Their previous duel was laden in controversy, as Juventus rallied from a 3–0 first-leg deficit in Madrid to restore parity in their 2017–18 Champions League quarterfinal, but a late penalty handed Los Blancos the chance to send them into the last four. Cristiano Ronaldo delivered from the spot.
It’s thus been more than seven years since these two European behemoths faced off.
Juventus enter the knockout stages of this competition having succumbed to a battering at the hands of Manchester City in their final group game. However, emphatic wins over Al Ain and Wydad AC meant they’d already booked their place in the last 16.
Madrid, meanwhile, started their campaign—and life under Xabi Alonso—with a 1–1 draw against Al Hilal. Since then, though, the Spanish giants have impressed and a 3–0 victory over RB Salzburg on Matchday 3 meant they won Group H.
Alonso is aiming to lead the 15-time Champions League winners to their sixth Club World Cup triumph in the United States this summer, but they’ve got a tough route to the final, starting with Tuesday’s high-profile duel.
Here is guide to this round of 16 clash at the Club World Cup.
