Xabi Alonso said Kylian Mbappe is edging closer to full fitness after the France star made his long-awaited Fifa Club World Cup debut during Real Madrid’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Juventus on Tuesday.
Mbappe came off the bench in the second half at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey following a bout of gastroenteritis that ruled him out of the group stage. But the 2022 World Cup winner’s cameo was enough to lift spirits in the Madrid camp as they prepare for a mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
“I think day by day he will get better, and by the time of the quarters, he should be in much better shape,” said Alonso. “We’ll keep checking in with him every day.”
With Mbappe still short of full fitness, Gonzalo Garcia continued to stake his claim as the breakout star of the tournament. The 21-year-old forward scored the only goal of the game – his third of the competition – to send the 15-time European champions through to the last eight.
“He’s growing with every game,” said Alonso. “His movement, his confidence – he’s playing with no fear. That’s exactly what we need.”
Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde also earned plaudits for his tireless display in midfield, with Alonso calling the Uruguayan “a complete player”.
“He’s everywhere on the pitch. Technically gifted, tactically intelligent, and he leads by example. He lifts the entire team.”
Alonso’s tactical tinkering also made an impact, with Vinicius Jr moved back to his favoured left-wing position in the second half after a quiet start.
“We saw that giving him width allowed him to attack better from outside in,” the Madrid coach explained. “That’s where he can be devastating.”
Defensively, Real Madrid looked composed and disciplined, limiting a Juventus side brimming with experience to very few clear chances.
“Our structure was good,” Alonso said. “We’ve only conceded two goals in four matches so far – that’s a credit to the whole team’s work off the ball.”
Madrid will now turn their attention to Dortmund, who secured their Club World Cup quarter-final spot with a 2-1 victory over Monterrey in Atlanta.
Serhou Guirassy struck twice in the opening 24 minutes to give the Bundesliga side control, and despite a spirited second-half rally from the Mexican outfit, the Germans held firm.
“It was difficult. They're a good team with experienced players,” said Guirassy, named player of the match. “We had a very good first half. Second half was a bit harder, but the mindset was tough and we won, so we're all happy tonight.”
The only blemish on Dortmund’s night came in the form of a suspension for teenager Jobe Bellingham, who picked up a booking that rules him out of a potential family reunion against older brother Jude.
“Of course it’s a shame,” Guirassy added. “But we have depth, and we’ll be ready for Madrid.”
A tantalising tie awaits in New Jersey, with Alonso’s side growing stronger – and possibly welcoming a fully fit Mbappe just in time.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
Read more about the coronavirus
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
