Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler scored late in the first half to help 10-man Real Madrid with a 3-1 win over CF Pachuca in a group of H collision played in the midst of sizzling circumstances in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Federico Valverde’s sliding volley in the 70th minute sealed Xabi Alonso’s first victory as Madrid manager. The result puts the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign back on the right track after a dramatic 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in Wednesday’s opener, and despite the early dismissal of Sunday of defender Raul Asencio.
It happened – Pachuca vs Real Madrid highlights
Real Madrid (1-0-1, 4 points) can achieve a place in the last 16 on Thursday with a victory or draw against RB Salzburg in Philadelphia. Al-Hilal Play Salzburg later on Sunday in Washington.
Thibaut Courtois made 10 rescues for the victors, although he could do little in the 80th minute of Elias Montiel who yielded Pachuca Troost.
The Mexican side was eliminated despite leading his Spanish enemies 25-8 lead in Schoten in general and 11-3 in attempts on goal. But like in Pachuca’s 2-1 loss from Wednesday against Salzburg, it was their opponents who had more quality in their attacks.
Chief referee Ramon Abatti Abel showed no hesitation in rejecting Asencio in the seventh minute for denying an obvious goal scoring chance after the Madrid defender Salomon Rondon had just passed the penalty area.
But after absorbing the pressure during most of the opening of the half hour, the Spaniards ran to a 2-0 lead in the last 15 minutes of half.
In the 35th, Gonzalo Garcia’s fast flick-on released Fran Garcia on the left. The last one then chose the late run of Bellingham, which collected a square ball and moved his low finish along Carlos Moreno from 15 Yards.
In the 43rd it was generous that the last touch from the area offered to another smooth Madrid movement, this time with Gonzalo Garcia who offered the last square pass after the First-Touch Cross of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
After the break, Pachuca continued to put pressure on, where Courtois was forced to push the half second of Bryan Gonzalez over the bar and the 61st minute strike by John Kennedy from his left, free from his left post.
