Real Madrid faces RB Salzburg on Thursday in the final match of the Club World Cup group stage, aiming to secure their place in the last 16. A win in Philadelphia guarantees first place in the group. A draw might also be sufficient, depending on the outcome of the Al-Hilal vs. Pachuca game. Coach Xabi Alonso will be missing a crucial player for this fixture: striker Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe was hospitalized during the group stage due to acute gastroenteritis. He was discharged nearly a week ago and has rejoined training. However, given the hot conditions affecting these matches, a cautious approach is being taken with his recovery. While there`s a possibility he could feature in the round of 16, the priority is a gradual return.
Manager Xabi Alonso commented on Mbappe`s condition: “I was happy to see him on the pitch, it was his first time running, but he is not fully recovered yet. He still has a vulnerability that prevents him from playing [Thursday] at the required competitive level.” Alonso added, “After training, we discussed it, and he hopes his recovery improves for the round of 16, if we qualify. He hopes to be available then, but he`s still recovering. He`s not yet 100% ready.”
Mbappe is considered vital for Real Madrid`s future progress and will be particularly needed in the knockout stages. In his first season with the club, he was highly productive, netting 40 goals and providing four assists across all competitions. With the team potentially ending the main season without major trophies, this tournament presents an opportunity to finish strongly before the offseason.
Consequently, young forward Gonzalo Garcia is expected to start his third straight game for Real Madrid in this tournament. The 21-year-old has impressed with a goal and an assist in his initial two appearances, having previously played just four senior matches in total before this competition. Coach Alonso is using this tournament to assess his squad depth, giving opportunities to players from the youth system like Garcia. Notably, Rodrygo has not been deployed as a false nine in Mbappe`s absence, perhaps hinting at the club exploring alternatives amidst rumors of the Brazilian potentially leaving.
Predicted Lineups
RB Salzburg: Christian Zawieschitzky, Stefan Lainer, Joane Gadou, Jacob Rasmussen, Frans Kratzig, Mads Bidstrup, Soumaila Diabate, Nene Dorgeles, Oscar Gloukh, Edmund Baidoo, Karim Onisiwo
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, Fran Garcia, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior
Match Information & Odds
- Date: Thursday, June 26
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Live stream: Watch on DAZN (for free)
- Odds: RB Salzburg +750; Draw +490; Real Madrid -370
Group H Scenarios
Real Madrid advance to the round of 16 with:
- Win or draw against RB Salzburg
- Loss to RB Salzburg AND Al-Hilal draw or loss to Pachuca
RB Salzburg advance to the round of 16 with:
- Win or draw against Real Madrid
- Loss to Real Madrid AND Al-Hilal loss to Pachuca
Al-Hilal advance to the round of 16 with:
- Win against Pachuca AND Real Madrid loss to RB Salzburg OR RB Salzburg loss to Real Madrid
Pachuca: Eliminated from the competition
Predicted Score
Real Madrid`s attack is expected to perform well, leading them to victory, topping the group, and building momentum for the knockout stage. Prediction: Real Madrid 3, RB Salzburg 1.
Adrian Whitmore