Xabi Alonso’s managerial era at Real Madrid finally has its first victory and it came against all odds. In their second game of the revamped Club World Cup, the record European Champions were already down to 10 men in just seven minutes after Raul Asencio was sent off for a for a clumsy foul on Salomon Rondon, who was clear on goal.
Despite the early setback, Los Blancos rallied to defeat Mexico’s Pachuca 3-1 in a thrilling FIFA Club World Cup group-stage clash, showcasing the resilience Alonso has instilled in his squad since taking charge earlier this month .
Jude Bellingham fired Madrid ahead in the 34th minute with a clinical left-footed finish, capitalizing on a Fran García assist to break the dreadlock and score his first goal of the tournament. Güler doubled the lead just before halftime while stand-in captain Federico Valverde added a third in the 69th minute, though Pachuca’s Elías Montiel pulled one back late .
In his post match media conference, Xabi Alonso defended Asencio’s second mistake in as many games instead praising his team’s adaptability after the early incident.
“Raúl [Asencio] is young, and this is a lesson. We’ll analyze it, but the team’s response was magnificent,” said Alonso “Playing with 10 men for 80 minutes isn’t easy, but we showed character. This is the spirit we need.”
On his part Jaime Lozano, Pachuca Manager expressed disappointment with his team’s performance after failing to take advantage of an extra man to grab a surprise win against the European heavyweights.
“We had chances but lacked precision. Against Madrid, you pay for every mistake.” he said “It was a clear red. We’re frustrated we couldn’t capitalize.”
Alonso’s adjustments after the red card shifting to a compact 4-4-1 and relying on rapid transitions proved decisive. Güler’s inclusion over Rodrygo paid off, while Valverde’s box-to-box dominance highlighted Madrid’s midfield control despite the numerical disadvantage .
Madrid’s final Group H match is against RB Salzburg on June 26 with progression to the next round now almost certain. The manager will also be looking to welcome back starman Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger who have missed the past two and one game respectively.
