Real Madrid Beat Pachuca 3-1: Alonso Era Start Strong!

Real Madrid secured a convincing 3-1 victory over C.F. Pachuca at the Bank of America Stadium, despite playing with ten men for over 80 minutes. This marks a promising start to the Xabi Alonso era.

After a disappointing 1-1 draw in their opening FIFA Club World Cup match, Real Madrid were determined to grab three points against Pachuca. However, the game in Charlotte took a dramatic turn early on.

Just seven minutes into the game, Raúl Asencio was sent off for a foul on Salomón Rondón just outside the box. The red card left Real Madrid with a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the match.

Despite being a man down, Real Madrid persevered. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several crucial saves to keep his team in the game. Jude Bellingham then scored a brilliant goal in the 35th minute to put Real Madrid ahead. Arda Güler added another goal just before halftime, capitalizing on excellent build-up play from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Gonzalo García.

In the second half, Real Madrid allowed Pachuca to have more possession but successfully contained the Mexican side. Fede Valverde scored the first goal of the second half, redeeming himself after missing a penalty in a previous match. Elías Montiel scored a late goal for Pachuca, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback.

With this victory, Real Madrid now top Group H with four points, while Pachuca are eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup. The win provides a strong foundation for Xabi Alonso's tenure as manager.

Key Moments:

• Red card for Raúl Asencio in the 7th minute.
• Jude Bellingham's opening goal in the 35th minute.
• Arda Güler's goal just before halftime.
• Fede Valverde's goal in the second half.
• Elías Montiel's late consolation goal for Pachuca.

What's Next?

Real Madrid will look to continue their winning form in their next FIFA Club World Cup fixture. Pachuca, on the other hand, will return to Liga MX action.