Real Madrid 3-1 Pachuca: 1st victory for Xabi Alonso's team

Real Madrid reacted in time to add their first victory in the Club World Cup against Pachuca (3-1). Xabi Alonso's team did not have too many problems to overcome the Mexican team in Charlotte despite Raúl Asencio's early expulsion. Finally, the hierarchy in the areas made the difference in favor of the 'merengues'.

The Spanish central defender saw the direct red card in the 7th minute for a grab on the Venezuelan Salomón Rondón, cutting off a clear goal-scoring opportunity as the last man. Despite the numerical superiority and having a handful of clear chances in the first 20 minutes, Jaime Lozano's team was unable to take advantage of a very favorable scenario.

Kenedy and Bautista tested Courtois' reflexes in the 17th minute, with two consecutive shots that the Belgian deflected using his reflexes. Madrid settled on the field after the first half hour of the match, finding spaces on the left.

Before the break, the Whites would find two goals to set up a key victory for their qualifying aspirations in the World Cup. Pachuca, like in the Intercontinental Cup, was no match for the 'Casa Blanca'.

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Bellingham and Güler led the rout of Madrid against Pachuca

In the 35th minute, the opening of the scoring arrived thanks to a good collective play by Real. Gonzalo García, again a starter in place of Kylian Mbappé (out due to illness), gave a ball on the left to Fran García. The full-back noticed the arrival of Jude Bellingham and enabled the Englishman with a low pass.

The '5', with time and space, defined with a crossed shot, shooting goalkeeper Moreno. Eight minutes later, the second 'merengue' would arrive after another similar play where the Spanish team punished the passivity of the 'tuzo' background.

A deep pass from Alexander-Arnold allowed Gonzalo to arrive freely in the area. The striker unloaded to his right, where Arda Güler arrived launched to define with a crossed right foot. After a couple of sparks, Madrid set up a comfortable victory against a weak Pachuca.

Fede Valverde closed the victory of Madrid in the complement

After the break, the process of the match did not vary too much. Xabi Alonso's team retreated to their own field, betting on long balls to hurt a Pachuca forced to take risks to at least get closer on the scoreboard.

Rondón wasted an unbeatable opportunity in the 55th minute, shooting high a ball lowered by John Kennedy where the Venezuelan had everything in favor to define at point-blank range. The '10' of Pachuca warned again with a shot from medium distance in the 58th minute that Courtois sent to the corner with a remarkable stretch.

The Belgian again deflected with his fists a shot from Kennedy (entered after the break), the best by far of the attack of the Mexican team, inexplicably a substitute in both World Cup matches.

Xabi did the same removing Güler and Bellingham for Ceballos and Modric. In the halftime Brahim had also entered for Gonzalo. In the 70th minute, the Moroccan culminated a good white counterattack with a center to the heart of the area finished by Fede Valverde.

The Uruguayan started the counterattack and culminated it taking advantage of his usual power and the passivity of the Mexican defense. Pachuca discounted in the 80th minute with a goal from Elías Montiel, but the goal of honor came too late and the 'tuzos', officially, are eliminated from the Club World Cup.

This is how the action of group H of the Club World Cup continues

Madrid, meanwhile, assumes the provisional leadership of group H with 4 points, waiting for what happens in the next match between Salzburg and Al Hilal. The Austrians add 3 units after their victory in the debut against Pachuca (1-0), while the Arabs equaled against the 'Casa Blanca' on the opening day.

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Real Madrid and Salzburg will close the group stage next Thursday (Friday morning in Spain) in a duel that may be key to defining the leader of the group. Pachuca, already eliminated, will play against Al Hilal on the same day and time (03:00 CEST on Friday).

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