1.9 billion peak showdown! Mbappe returns, Real Madrid and Juventus fight to the top of Miami

The three defenders have a slam against each other, a 1.9 billion euro worth of money, and Mbappe's debut comeback, this Club World Cup knockout match carries the century-old grudges and new forces of European football.

At 3 a.m. on July 2, the lights at Miami Hard Rock Stadium will focus on the most popular 1/8 final of the Club World Cup - Real Madrid vs. Juventus. This is the only showdown between the top five European league teams in the Club World Cup.

The sum of the total value of the two teams exceeds 1.9 billion euros. Real Madrid's entire team is worth 1.34 billion euros, while Juventus's total is worth 590 million euros.

This is the first time that two European giants have held a formal match on American soil. Although the previous three friendly matches were staged in the United States, this time, the cruelty of the Club World Cup knockout round swept away the warmth of friendship.

01st Century Showdown

Real Madrid coach Gong Hao#Naruto's notes said that the 1.9 billion euros worth of money is not the Champions League final, but the most valuable 1/8 final in the history of the Club World Cup. The encounter between Real Madrid and Juventus at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami carries the century-old grudges and new forces of European football.

At 3 a.m. on July 2, football fans around the world will focus on this priceless contest. The game venue Miami Hard Rock Stadium has witnessed too many passionate collisions in the NFL and will now usher in the official showdown of European football giants for the first time.

Real Madrid played steadily in the group stage, winning 2 wins and 1 draw to win the top spot in Group H. Scoring 7 goals in three games and conceding only 1 goal, showing the stability of the Champions League championship. Juventus advanced as the second place in Group G, scoring 11 goals in three games, but also exposed the hidden dangers on the defense.

The particularity of this showdown lies in the interweaving of history and reality. Real Madrid and Juventus have met 21 times in the official matches, all in the Champions League. Juventus is Real Madrid's second most encounters foreign opponent, second only to Bayern.

02 Mbappe's return

Acute gastroenteritis caused the French superstar to lose 4-5 kilograms and was forced to miss all three group matches of Real Madrid. Real Madrid's medical team was supervised day and night, and finally ushered in the good news of recovery in the warm wind on the east coast of the United States.

"Mbappe has recovered his health and participated in Real Madrid's full team training", and the team reporter confirmed at the pre-match press conference. In the 2024-25 season, Mbappe scored 43 goals for Real Madrid, and the king, who ranked first in the top five European leagues in the scorer list, is about to return.

His comeback brought sweet troubles to coach Alonso. During Mbappe's absence, young player Gonzalo Garcia performed amazingly as center and contributed 2 goals and 1 assist. But facing a strong opponent like Juventus, Alonso will almost certainly allow Mbappe, Vinicius and Guerre to form Real Madrid's main trident.

Mbappe's comeback timing is perfect. The appearance after 60 minutes was a killer move - Juventus' right-wing defender Costa lacked defense stability, and was defeated by Manchester City's Doku three times in the group stage, resulting in a goal conceding. If Mbappe and Vinicius take turns to attack, Costa's yellow card risk may ignite Juventus' defense crisis in advance.

03 Historical duel

Real Madrid won 10 wins, 2 draws and 9 losses, and this set of numbers condenses the grievances and hatreds of the two giants spanning half a century. The first time the two sides met was in the quarterfinals of the 1961-62 season. Real Madrid eliminated Juventus with a total score of 4-1 in two rounds.

The two teams' two confrontations in the Champions League final became a classic. In 1998, Mijatovic's goal helped Real Madrid win 1-0, winning the Champions League trophy again after 32 years. In 2017, Real Madrid swept Juventus 4-1, with Ronaldo scoring twice, Czemiro World Wave and Asensio added icing on the cake.

The last official match between the two sides was the quarter-finals of the 2017-18 Champions League. Real Madrid won 3-0 away, lost 1-3 at home, and advanced 4-3 in total. That night, Ronaldo's barb and final penalty kick were still a classic scene in the Champions League.

Interestingly, the two teams have shown alternating wins and losses in the last three friendly matches in the United States: Real Madrid won in 2018 and 2022, and Juventus won 3-1 in 2023. This winning and losing mode of informal confrontation adds mystery to this formal showdown.

04 Pre-match prediction

Real Madrid coach Alonso stayed cautious before the game: "Mbappe's form? We won't take risks, but he is indeed ready to contribute important strength." This statement implies that the French superstar may not start, but a substitute may become a fatal killer move after 60 minutes.

Juventus coach Tudor emphasized his mentality: "The loss against Manchester City has taught us that any mistake in top-level games will be punished. Real Madrid has an enviable attack line, but we are ready."

Real Madrid has the greatest possibility of advancing with a small victory. The recent situation of the two teams shows that Real Madrid won 5 wins and 1 draw in the last 6 games, while Juventus' 2-5 defeat in the last round exposed the hidden dangers of Manchester City. The score situation may replicate the 2-1 score of the 2018 Champions League matchup. When the referee blew the final whistle, Miami's night sky will witness one team advance to the quarterfinals and the other bid farewell to the Club World Cup dream. If Real Madrid advances, they will break through the $60 million game prize mark, while Juventus will leave sadly with five unbeatable results against European giants. The 1.9 billion euro collision on the football field will eventually condense into several cold numbers on the scoreboard. But no matter the outcome, this green duel under the Miami night sky will become a classic footnote in the history of the Club World Cup - when the elegance of the White Legion meets the power of the Zebra Legion, when Mbappe's comeback meets the rise of Ilditz