Real edge Juventus to reach last eight as Mbappe starts Club World Cup

Garcia finds the back of the net early in the second half

Real Madrid hit their stride at the Club World Cup on Tuesday, edging Juventus 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals thanks to a second-half strike from academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia as Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut.

Garcia, deputising for Mbappe after the France forward missed the group stage due to gastroenteritis, found the back of the net early in the second half to set up a meeting with either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey.

Mbappe made his much-anticipated appearance as a second-half substitute, delighting the partisan crowd who packed Hard Rock Stadium to near capacity in a demonstration of the Spanish giants’ considerable global appeal.

Juventus had early chances but gradually faded under the relentless pressing of Xabi Alonso's side and had goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio to thank for sparing them a heavier defeat.