Real Madrid vs Pachuca

Real Madrid will look to secure four points in Group H as they face Pachuca in their next Club World Cup match on Sunday.

Currently second in their group after a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in their opening game, Los Blancos trail the leaders, while Pachuca sit at the bottom following a 2-1 loss to Red Bull Salzburg.

In their first match, Real Madrid struggled against Al-Hilal, with Gonzalo Garcia scoring in the 34th minute, only for Ruben Neves to equalize from a penalty just before halftime. Neither side managed a second goal at Hard Rock Stadium.

A win on Sunday won’t guarantee Real Madrid’s place in the round of 16, but it would significantly strengthen their position heading into the final group stage match.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen debuted as starters for Real Madrid against Al-Hilal, but the team’s performance was lackluster, especially without Kylian Mbappe, who was recently sidelined by acute gastroenteritis.

Despite their uneven start, Real Madrid remain among the favorites to claim the tournament title, though a poor result against Pachuca could complicate their path forward in Group H.

Under new manager Xabi Alonso, who understands the high expectations at the Bernabeu—particularly after Barcelona’s dominance last season—the team will be eager to improve on their Al-Hilal showing.

Pachuca, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Salzburg, with Karim Onisiwo’s 76th-minute goal proving decisive. A loss to Real Madrid on Sunday would eliminate the Mexican side from the tournament before their final group match against Al-Hilal.

Pachuca are no strangers to the Club World Cup, having competed in four previous editions, and they earned their 2025 spot by winning the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The two sides met in the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup final last December, where Real Madrid triumphed 3-0, with goals from Mbappe, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Junior.