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Preview: Real Madrid meet Pachuca in search for first win at Club World Cup

Preview: Real Madrid meet Pachuca in search for first win at Club World Cup

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Xabi Alonso’s new look Madrid side will be looking to kickstart their campaign while Liga MX’s Pachuca need a result if they are to prolong their stay in the United States.

By Ian King

Form

Real Madrid endured a disappointing 2024/25 season by their own lofty standards, finishing as runners-up to Barcelona in LaLiga and losing the final of the Copa del Rey to the same opposition. They didn’t start this tournament particularly strongly either, with a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in their opening match. Pachuca ended up in eighth place in Liga MX’s Clausura campaign, earning them a place in the play-offs. They were, however, beaten 2-1 by RB Salzburg in their opening match in this tournament.

Intercontinental rivalry

There is a bit of history here. These two clubs met each other in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup match in Qatar at the end of last year, with Madrid winning 3-0. But this was the first and only competitive meeting between these two clubs.

Key Players

Aurélien Tchouaméni could be the key player for Real Madrid. With a lot of absentees, the midfielder put in a decent shift in their opening match and is likely to start again in the centre of the park. A lot of eyes will also be on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had a mixed debut for them in their opening match, playing 65 minutes before being withdrawn.

There’s a few familiar names in the Pachuca team for those watching in Europe. Salomón Rondón played there for West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle and Everton, as well as in Russia and Spain, and now has 118 international appearances for Venezuela. And former Chelsea, Newcastle United, and star of LaLiga Kenedy should join Rondón in the forward line.

Team News 

The big question hanging over the Real Madrid team ahead of this match is whether Kylian Mbappé will be fit. Having dropped two points in their opening match, Real need a result from this one. Mbappé missed that match with illness. Gonzalo García deputised for him in that match, and will be expected to do so again should he still be absent. 

Otherwise, Real have a lengthy injuries and illnesses list. Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Endrick and Antonio Rüdiger all have injuries or illnesses which keep them out of the team. Pachuca’s only absentee will be Andrés Micolta, who won’t be appearing in this tournament at all.

Prediction

Real Madrid were the first winners of the European Cup and the first winners of the Intercontinental Cup. They like to be early adopters, and winning this tournament may mean more to them than it does to other European entrants. Those two dropped points in their opening match mean that a win in this one will be pretty much essential if they’re to progress with confidence. 

Pachuca didn’t embarrass themselves in their opening match against Salzburg, and defeat leaves them needing a result of some description from this match if they’re to proceed to the next stage of the competition. 

Their form, however, hasn’t been great at home and there’s little to suggest that they’ll have enough about them to get past even a depleted Real Madrid team. It’s unlikely that this match will be as clear-cut as their previous meeting at the end of 2024, but Real Madrid’s Big Club Arrogance should be enough to get them through this. I’ll go 2-1 Madrid, and a little nervousness going into their final group match. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the Champions League Final with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: Real Madrid meet Pachuca in search for first win at Club World Cup

Xabi Alonso’s new look Madrid side will be looking to kickstart their campaign while Liga MX’s Pachuca need a result if they are to prolong their stay in the United States.

By Ian King

Form

Real Madrid endured a disappointing 2024/25 season by their own lofty standards, finishing as runners-up to Barcelona in LaLiga and losing the final of the Copa del Rey to the same opposition. They didn’t start this tournament particularly strongly either, with a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in their opening match. Pachuca ended up in eighth place in Liga MX’s Clausura campaign, earning them a place in the play-offs. They were, however, beaten 2-1 by RB Salzburg in their opening match in this tournament.

Intercontinental rivalry

There is a bit of history here. These two clubs met each other in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup match in Qatar at the end of last year, with Madrid winning 3-0. But this was the first and only competitive meeting between these two clubs.

Key Players

Aurélien Tchouaméni could be the key player for Real Madrid. With a lot of absentees, the midfielder put in a decent shift in their opening match and is likely to start again in the centre of the park. A lot of eyes will also be on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had a mixed debut for them in their opening match, playing 65 minutes before being withdrawn.

There’s a few familiar names in the Pachuca team for those watching in Europe. Salomón Rondón played there for West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle and Everton, as well as in Russia and Spain, and now has 118 international appearances for Venezuela. And former Chelsea, Newcastle United, and star of LaLiga Kenedy should join Rondón in the forward line.

Team News 

The big question hanging over the Real Madrid team ahead of this match is whether Kylian Mbappé will be fit. Having dropped two points in their opening match, Real need a result from this one. Mbappé missed that match with illness. Gonzalo García deputised for him in that match, and will be expected to do so again should he still be absent. 

Otherwise, Real have a lengthy injuries and illnesses list. Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Endrick and Antonio Rüdiger all have injuries or illnesses which keep them out of the team. Pachuca’s only absentee will be Andrés Micolta, who won’t be appearing in this tournament at all.

Prediction

Real Madrid were the first winners of the European Cup and the first winners of the Intercontinental Cup. They like to be early adopters, and winning this tournament may mean more to them than it does to other European entrants. Those two dropped points in their opening match mean that a win in this one will be pretty much essential if they’re to progress with confidence. 

Pachuca didn’t embarrass themselves in their opening match against Salzburg, and defeat leaves them needing a result of some description from this match if they’re to proceed to the next stage of the competition. 

Their form, however, hasn’t been great at home and there’s little to suggest that they’ll have enough about them to get past even a depleted Real Madrid team. It’s unlikely that this match will be as clear-cut as their previous meeting at the end of 2024, but Real Madrid’s Big Club Arrogance should be enough to get them through this. I’ll go 2-1 Madrid, and a little nervousness going into their final group match. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the Champions League Final with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.