Juventus gamble on Gatti for Madrid showdown | OneFootball

Juventus are preparing for a pivotal showdown with Real Madrid in the Club World Cup round of 16, aiming to bounce back from their recent defeat against Manchester City. According to JNetwork24, Tutto Juve, and Sky Sport, Igor Tudor is expected to make several changes to his lineup, with five first-team regulars returning to the starting XI.

One significant update sees Federico Gatti set to anchor the Juventus defence, replacing Savona after his injury. Despite not being fully recovered from a fibula injury, Gatti is favoured over Rugani and will likely join Kalulu and Kelly in a three-man backline. The midfield is anticipated to feature Thuram and McKennie centrally, flanked by Alberto Costa and Cambiaso as wing-backs. In attack, Conceição and Yildiz will sit behind leading striker Kolo Muani. There is also speculation that Vlahovic, who has scored in his last two matches, could feature in Tudor’s tactical plans.

The match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1st, 2025, with kickoff at 21:00 Italian time at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has been assigned to officiate what is widely regarded as one of the blockbuster ties of the round, as highlighted by Tutto Juve.

Bookmakers strongly favour Real Madrid, guided by Xabi Alonso, to progress. The odds for Madrid advancing are set at 1.33, compared to Juventus’ 4.30. Over 2.5 goals appears likely given recent high-scoring encounters between these clubs, with five of the last six meetings featuring at least three goals. Individual attention will be on Vlahovic and Kolo Muani, who are both in form—Vlahovic is priced at 3.75 to score, Kolo Muani at 4.50.

Speaking to Sky Sport, Giovanni Guardalà emphasised the mental challenge facing Juventus after their loss to City. “Juventus must show maturity—mature teams immediately put defeats behind them and face the next match with the right attitude. If you dwell on what happened against City, you risk another poor showing,” he warned.

This sentiment is echoed in the Juventus camp, with the focus now on concentration and resilience against a Madrid side looking to confirm their elite status. While bookmakers and pundits tip Real as favourites, the combination of returning starters and renewed determination could give the Bianconeri the reset they need on the biggest stage.

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