With both clubs holding a precarious grip on the qualifying positions in their Club World Cup group, Real Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg meet to determine the knockout participants in Philadelphia on Thursday.
The two sides are level atop the Group H standings on points, with Real Madrid holding a slim differential advantage. A draw would see Real Madrid qualify for the knockout stage, but would leave Salzburg vulnerable if Al Hilal pummel Pachuca in the other match.
Defeat for either club, meanwhile, would also put them in danger should Al Hilal pass their test.
Xabi Alonso is once again without Kylian Mbappe, with the French star now missing the entire group stage due to illness.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.
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RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid starting lineups, team news
The biggest name to know in the RB Salzburg squad is 21-year-old attacking midfielder Oscar Gloukh, who already has 21 caps for Israel and has been linked with Liverpool in the last few years. Winger Dorgles Nene is another rising talent, as the 22-year-old Mali international leads the team with 15 goals this season.
Ivorian defender Karim Konate is out after tearing his ACL back in November, while midfielder Nicolas Capaldo was not included on the roster while he recovers from a broken toe. Those are just two of a number of injuries that impacted the RB Salzburg squad for this competition.
That was worsened as Valentin Sulzbacher was withdrawn early in the second half of their opener with a thigh injury and missed the recent draw with Al Hilal.
RB Salzburg starting XI (4-4-2, right to left): 52. Zawieschitzky (GK) — 22. Lainer, 23. Gadou, 2. Rasmussen, 13. Kratzig — 45. Dorgeles, 15. Diambou, 5. Diabate, 30. Gloukh — 20. Baidoo, 21. Ratkov.
Injured: Konate (ACL), Capaldo (foot), Kawamura (knee), Schlager (hand), Guindo (knee), Sulzbacher (thigh), Caufriez (back).
Suspended: None.
On a yellow card: Diabate, Kitano.
Full RB Salzburg squad
Goalkeepers: Salko Hamzic, Jonas Krumrey, Alexander Schlager, Christian Zawieschitzky
Defenders: Samson Baidoo, Joane Gadou, Frans Kraetzig, Stefan Lainer, John Mellberg, Jacob Rasmussen, Jannik Schuster, Tim Trummer
Midfielders: Mads Bidstrup, Soumaila Diabate, Mamady Diambou, Oscar Gloukh, Takumu Kawamura, Maurits Kjaergaard, Valentin Sulzbacher
Forwards: Enrique Aguilar, Edmund Baidoo, Adam Daghim, Sota Kitano, Dorgeles Nene, Karim Onisiwo, Petar Ratkov, Yorbe Vertessen, Moussa Yeo
Kylian Mbappe was hospitalised by a bout of gastroenteritis and missed the wins over Al Hilal and Pachuca. While he's returned to training, Xabi Alonso has played it safe, and the France star is still missing from the Real Madrid lineup to conclude the group stage.
Endrick, the usual cover for Mbappe, did not travel due to a hamstring injury and remains sidelined as part of the lengthy absentee list. Gonzalo Garcia has impressed so far and remains in the lineup at the head of the attack.
With Raul Asencio suspended after his early red card against Pachuca, Antonio Rudiger is called upon earlier than expected as he makes his first start since a knee injury months ago, needing just one substitute appearance last time out to regain fitness. Along the same lines, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham remain in the lineup for a third straight start despite the possibility for Alonso to hand them rest.
Eduardo Camavinga is still absent with a muscle injury of his own, while Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, and Eder Militao also continue their recovery.
MORE: All the latest Real Madrid news
Real Madrid starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Courtois (GK) — 12. Alexander-Arnold, 22. Rudiger, 24. Huijsen, 20. F. Garcia — 15. Guler, 14. Tchouameni, 5. Bellingham — 8. Valverde, 30. G. Garcia, 7. Vinicius Jr.
Injured: Mbappe (illness, doubt), Carvajal (knee), Camavinga (knee), Endrick hamstring), Militao (knee), Mendy (muscle).
Suspended: Asencio (red card).
On a yellow card: Vinicius Jr.
Full Real Madrid squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Fran Gonzalez, Andriy Lunin, Sergio Mestre.
Defenders: Diego Aguado, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Dani Carvajal, Jesus Fortea, Fran Garcia, Dean Huijsen, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Jacobo Ramon, Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, Yusi.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Chema, Arda Guler, Mario Martin, Luka Modric, Victor Munoz, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde.
Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Endrick, Gonzalo Garcia, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.
RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid score prediction
Real Madrid have improved slightly under Xabi Alonso, but there are clear growing pains still. While Madrid will know they have not yet qualified for the knockout stage, they won't be as motivated to win as RB Salzburg, as a draw sees them through.
Therefore, it wouldn't be shocking to see them look to simply hold firm and ease their way through with a point.
Prediction: RB Salzburg 2-2 Real Madrid
How to watch RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid: Live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Club World Cup group stage match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Thu, Jun. 26 | 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT | — | DAZN |
| Canada | Thu, Jun. 26 | 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT | — | DAZN |
| UK | Fri, Jun. 27 | 2 a.m. BST | Channel 5 | DAZN |
| Australia | Fri, Jun. 27 | 1 p.m. AEST | — | DAZN, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now |
| India | Fri, Jun. 27 | 6:30 a.m. IST | — | DAZN, tabii |