The Real Madrid juggernaut continued its march at the FIFA Club World Cup, as the Spanish giants comfortably defeated RB Salzburg 3-0 in their group stage encounter. Played at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the match saw Xabi Alonso’s men showcase their superiority over their Austrian counterparts, securing the top spot in Group H.
The Real Madrid dominance was evident from the start, with Vinícius leading the charge. The Brazilian forward had a couple of early chances, but it was in the 40th minute that he finally broke the deadlock, unleashing a powerful left-footed strike from outside the box that found the back of the net.
Valverde and García Seal the Deal
As the first half drew to a close, Federico Valverde doubled the lead for the Spanish side, capitalizing on a clever assist from Vinícius in the added time of the first half.
The second half saw Real Madrid comfortably manage the game, with the Austrian side struggling to pose a serious threat. However, in the 84th minute, the unexpected substitute Gonzalo García put the final nail in the coffin, scoring a stunning goal to seal the 3-0 victory for the Merengues.
Juventus Awaits in Quarterfinals
With this convincing win, Real Madrid has set up a tantalizing quarterfinal clash against Juventus, another European powerhouse. This classic European encounter will pit two of the most successful clubs in history against each other, with the winner advancing to the semifinals of the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, at 3:00 PM local time.
Al-Hilal Breaks European-American Dominance
In a surprising turn of events, Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia became the only non-European or American team to advance to the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup. The Saudi Arabian side defeated Pachuca of Mexico 2-0, with goals from Salem Al-Dawsari and Marcos Leonardo, to finish the group stage undefeated.
Al-Hilal’s quarterfinal matchup will be against the tournament favorites, Manchester City, on Monday, June 31, at 9:00 PM local time.
