They currently sit second in the group after a 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal in their opening match. That game saw Gonzalo Garcia give Madrid the lead in the 34th minute, but Ruben Neves equalized from the penalty spot before halftime. Neither side could find a winner in what turned out to be a fairly lackluster performance from Los Blancos at Hard Rock Stadium.
Meanwhile, Pachuca are bottom of the group after a 2-1 loss to Red Bull Salzburg. Karim Onisiwo’s goal in the 76th minute sealed the defeat for the Mexican side.
Although Real Madrid can’t book their place in the knockout rounds just yet, a win on Sunday would put them in a strong position going into their final group match against Salzburg.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen made their debuts for Madrid in the draw with Al-Hilal, but the team still struggled overall, partly due to the absence of Kylian Mbappe, who has been sidelined with acute gastroenteritis.
Despite their slow start, Real Madrid remain one of the favorites to win the tournament. But another slip-up here could put their hopes in serious jeopardy.
New head coach Xabi Alonso is still settling into the role and knows the expectations are high, especially after Barcelona’s strong season. He’ll be demanding a much better performance this time around.
As for Pachuca, a loss to Madrid would knock them out of the competition before their final group match against Al-Hilal. They’re no strangers to the Club World Cup, having competed in four previous editions. They earned their place this year by winning the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Interestingly, these two sides met just last December in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Real Madrid came out on top in that one, winning 3-0 thanks to goals from Mbappe, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Junior.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Real Madrid will be without Kylian Mbappe on Sunday. The French star was hospitalized on Thursday due to illness. Although he has since been discharged, he won't be ready in time to face Pachuca.There is some good news for Madrid, as Antonio Rudiger is back in the squad after recovering from a knee injury. However, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Eder Militao, and Eduardo Camavinga all remain sidelined.
Ferland Mendy and Endrick are also unavailable. Both stayed behind in Spain to continue their rehab and aim to be fit in time for the start of the 2025–26 season.
New signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen are expected to start again, while Gonzalo Garcia is likely to keep his place up front in Mbappe’s absence. On the Pachuca side, head coach Jaime Lozano might stick with the same lineup that faced Salzburg.
Veteran striker Salomon Rondon, now 35, is expected to lead the attack once again. He had a strong 2024–25 season, scoring 17 goals for the club. Former Chelsea forward Kenedy should also keep his place in the front line. He’s currently on loan at Pachuca from Real Valladolid.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Garcia, Vinicius
Pachuca possible starting lineup:
Moreno; Rodriguez, Bauermann, Pereira, Gonzalez; Montiel, Pedraza, Palavecino; Dominguez, Rondon, Kenedy
EXPERT PREDICTION
Real Madrid 2-1 Pachuca
