As the group stage of the Club World Cup concludes, Real Madrid is preparing to face RB Salzburg on Thursday without having yet secured their place in the last 16. A victory in Philadelphia on Thursday would see them advance as group winners. A draw might also be enough, depending on the result of the match between Al-Hilal and Pachuca. However, manager Xabi Alonso will be missing a crucial player for this fixture, as striker Kylian Mbappe is unavailable.
During the group stage, Mbappe was admitted to the hospital with acute gastroenteritis. He was discharged almost a week ago and has since returned to training. Given the high temperatures, the club is taking a cautious approach with the French international`s recovery. There is a possibility he could be fit for the round of 16, but the current priority is a slow and steady return.
Manager Xabi Alonso commented, “I was pleased to see him back on the pitch running, but he hasn`t fully recovered yet. He still has a weak spot that prevents him from playing [Thursday], at least at the competitive intensity we require. We spoke after the training session, and he`s hoping for a faster recovery if we reach the round of 16. He hopes to be available then, but he is still in the recovery process and not yet at 100% for the next match.”
Mbappe`s presence will be vital for Real Madrid moving forward, particularly in the knockout stages of the tournament. In his debut season for Los Blancos, Mbappe scored 40 goals and registered four assists across all competitions. With no major silverware secured yet, this tournament offers a chance to conclude the season on a positive note before the offseason begins.
This situation will likely see young striker Gonzalo Garcia start his third consecutive match for Real Madrid in this competition. The 21-year-old has made an impact with a goal and an assist in his first two appearances, despite having only featured in four senior matches before the tournament. As Alonso continues to assess his squad, he has been evaluating players from Real Madrid`s youth academy, including Garcia. It`s notable that Rodrygo hasn`t been deployed as a false nine in Mbappe`s absence. This could be significant, especially amid rumors that the Brazilian might leave the club, suggesting Alonso might be exploring other attacking options.
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 Details & Odds
- Date: Thursday, June 26
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Odds: RB Salzburg +750; Draw +490; Real Madrid -370
Group H Qualification Scenarios
Real Madrid advances to the round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against RB Salzburg.
- A loss to RB Salzburg AND Al-Hilal drawing or losing to Pachuca.
RB Salzburg advances to the round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Real Madrid.
- A loss to Real Madrid AND Al-Hilal losing to Pachuca.
Al-Hilal advances to the round of 16 with:
- A win against Pachuca AND Real Madrid losing to RB Salzburg OR RB Salzburg losing to Real Madrid.
Pachuca: Eliminated from the competition.
Predicted score
Real Madrid`s attack finds its rhythm, allowing them to secure top spot in the group and build momentum heading into the knockout stage. Pick: Real Madrid 3, RB Salzburg 1.
