Charlotte, USA – June 20, 2025 —
Real Madrid took a significant step towards the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup with a hard-fought 3–1 victory over Mexican side Pachuca, despite playing with 10 men for the majority of the match.
Xabi Alonso’s side were dealt an early blow when Raul Asencio was sent off just seven minutes in for a last-man foul on Salomon Rondon, the former Premier League striker who looked set to score before being brought down. The red card left Real Madrid a man down for over 80 minutes in scorching 33°C heat, in front of a crowd of 70,248 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Pachuca, buoyed by their numerical advantage, dominated possession and chances throughout the match, registering 25 shots to Madrid’s eight. They also had a penalty appeal turned down following a VAR review, and were guilty of missing several clear opportunities to take control.
However, it was Real Madrid who struck first, with Jude Bellingham continuing his impressive scoring run. The England midfielder latched onto a precise through ball, drove into the box, and coolly slotted past the goalkeeper to give Madrid the lead. Arda Güler then made it 2–0, finishing smartly after a well-worked build-up involving Trent Alexander-Arnold and Gonzalo Garcia.
Despite the pressure from Pachuca, Federico Valverde added a third for Madrid, stabbing home from close range to effectively seal the result. Pachuca’s Elias Montiel pulled one back via a deflected effort, but it proved only a consolation as the Mexican side were officially eliminated from the competition.
A standout performance came from Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made ten saves — including a crucial double stop to deny both Rondon and Alan Bautista, and another key intervention to prevent Carlos Sanchez from narrowing the gap to 3–2. His heroics ensured Madrid stayed in control, despite the numerical disadvantage and shaky moments at the back.
This result marks Real Madrid’s first win under new manager Xabi Alonso, following a 1–1 draw in their opening match against Al-Hilal. It also continues the club’s dominant record in the tournament, with their only Club World Cup loss remaining a penalty shootout defeat to Necaxa in 2000.
Madrid will face Red Bull Salzburg next on Friday (02:00 BST), needing a win to secure a spot in the round of 16, while Pachuca will meet Al-Hilal in a match that will now have only pride at stake.
Madrid will hope to welcome back Kylian Mbappé, who missed this match due to a bout of gastroenteritis, as they continue their quest for international silverware.