Jude Bellingham led Real Madrid, who were down by one man, to a beautiful 3-1 triumph over Mexican side Pachuca to take a big hop towards the Fifa Club World Cup 2025 round of 16.
The Los Blancos, guided by Xabi Alonso, were reduced to 10 players very early, in the 7th minute, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina when Raul Asencio fouled Salomon Rondon when the veteran former West Brom striker was through on goal.
The Mexican club inflicted problems on Real Madrid and had several opportunities and a penalty appeal declined by the video assistant referee (VAR).
English midfielder, Bellingham, opened the scoring for the Spanish La Liga side in the 35th minute; then, Arda Güler added the second after converting Gonzalo Garcia’s assist in the 43rd minute.
Brahim Diaz provided for Federico Valverde who added the third for the Los Blancos in the 70th minute, before Pachuca netted their consolation in the 80th minute through E. Montiel.
With this outcome, Pachuca are knocked out of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, while Real Madrid will scale through to the Round of 16 if they emerge victorious over Austrian club, RB Salzburg when they lock horns on Friday.
Real Madrid looked unstable particularly when Rondon was kept onside before Asencio fouled on him – and were tested thoroughly by 2018-19 Newcastle team-mates Rondon and Kenedy.
Los Blancos’ French forward, Kylian Mbappe, remain out of action after suffering acute gastroenteritis which forced him to be hospitalised.
Result
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – Sunday 22 June, 2025 |
| River Plate 0-0 Monterrey |
| Juventus 4-1 Wydad Casablanca |
| Real Madrid 3-1 Pachuca |
| FC Salzburg 0-0 Al Hilal |
On his second appearance for Real Madrid, new addition, Trent Alexander-Arnold, did not do much for the Spanish side, however, contributed to the club’s second goal.
Alexander-Arnol moved to Real Madrid from Premier League outfit, Liverpool, after helping Arne Slot’s Reds clinch their 20th Premier League title.
Photo: Jude Bellingham celebrates goal for Real Madrid against Pachuca in North Carolina. X/Real Madrid C.F.
