Undermanned Real Madrid emerged victorious over Mexican team Pachuca, advancing significantly towards the Fifa Club World Cup knockout rounds.
The Spanish team, managed by Xabi Alonso, found themselves a man down early in the match held in Charlotte. Raul Asencio was penalized for an unfair challenge on seasoned striker Salomon Rondon as he was about to score.
Despite the disadvantage, Pachuca found it hard to penetrate Real Madrid’s defense. They had multiple attacks and even a penalty claim, all of which were denied by the video assistant referee.
Real Madrid took the lead with Jude Bellingham successfully converting a pass into a goal. He skillfully maneuvered the ball into the box and launched a precise strike past the Pachuca goalkeeper.
The lead was further extended by Arda Guler, who converted a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold into a goal, thanks to Gonzalo Garcia’s assist. The third goal came from Federico Valverde before Elias Montiel’s deflected shot gave Pachuca a glimmer of hope.
Real Madrid will advance to the last 16 if they defeat Austrian team Red Bull Salzburg on Friday (02:00 BST). Unfortunately for Pachuca, they are now out of the competition.
Despite the score suggesting a comfortable win for Real Madrid, the reality was far from it. The team had to work hard for the victory, especially under the hot 33C temperature and in front of a massive crowd of 70,248 spectators.
Pachuca dominated the game in terms of shots, with 25 attempts compared to Real Madrid’s eight. However, their inability to convert those chances cost them the game.
Real Madrid’s defence appeared vulnerable, especially when they faced Rondon and Kenedy, former Newcastle teammates. However, a win is still a win, and the team will be looking forward to the next round, hopefully with a fit Kylian Mbappe who was out sick.
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was the standout player of the match. He made 10 crucial saves, including a double stop to deny Rondon and Alan Bautista, and another to prevent Carlos Sanchez from making it 3-2.
Bellingham scored his 15th goal of the season, offering a significant contribution to the team’s victory. Despite a less noticeable performance, Trent Alexander-Arnold played a role in Real Madrid’s second goal.
The match was a repeat of the 2024 Intercontinental Cup final, which saw Real Madrid winning 3-0 in Qatar. The team remains unbeaten in Club World Cup games, except for a penalty shootout defeat in the 2000 third-place play-off by Necaxa, another Mexican team.
Next on the schedule, Real Madrid goes against Salzburg and Pachuca faces Al-Hilal, both matches are on Friday (02:00 BST).
