10-MAN REAL BEAT PACHUCA AT CLUB WORLD CUP
Real Madrid picked up their first win of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign, beating Mexican outfit Pachuca 3-1 in Charlotte, North Carolina to go top of Group H.
Pachuca started on the front foot, constantly looking to play through Real Madrid’s high line.
Xabi Alonso’s side were reduced to 10 men after just seven minutes when Salomon Rondon was sent through on goal before being taken out by Raul Asencio.
The Mexican outfit had two huge chances to score with 19 minutes on the clock. Kenedy struck a powerful effort which Thibaut Courtois saved, the ball then fell to Alan Bautista on the rebound around eight yards out, but Real’s goalkeeper was equal to that one too.
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break with a brilliant goal, taking Fran Garcia’s pass in his stride before rifling a left-footed effort into the bottom corner past Carlos Moreno.
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Madrid did not have to wait long to double their lead, with Arda Guler firing past Moreno two minutes before half-time.
Pachuca continued to push forward in the second half, firing shot after shot on Courtois’ goal but to no avail.
Fede Valverde sealed the victory 20 minutes from time, laying the ball off to Brahim Diaz before making a darting run into the box. Diaz found him with a brilliant ball over the top and Valverde was able to stick out a toe to divert his effort into the back of the net.
The Mexican side got their goal with what was their 22nd shot of the evening, with Elias Montiel’s effort taking a wicked deflection off Aurelien Tchouameni which sent it past Courtois. But it was too little too late as the match ended 3-1 to the Spanish giants.
RB Salzburg are up next for Real on Friday on MD3, with those two teams currently occupying the top two positions in Group H. For Pachuca, they will take on Al-Hilal on Friday, looking to pick up their first points in the competition this season.
