Real Madrid Must Win and Improve Image Against Pachuca

Real Madrid faces the Mexican team Pachuca this Sunday (21:00 h.) in the second round of the Club World Cup group stage, in a match of vital importance for the future of the Spanish team in the tournament. Xabi Alonso's team needs a victory to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive after a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in the debut of the Basque coach on the bench.

Their second opponent in the World Cup, the current Concacaf champion, is in a difficult situation after losing to Salzburg (1-2), and another defeat would see them eliminated. The Whites defeated the Mexican team six months ago, when Carlo Ancelotti's side triumphed 3-0 in the Intercontinental Cup final last December.

Xabi Alonso will still be without Kylian Mbappé, who is not yet fit to play after suffering from gastroenteritis in the United States. The absence of the French star poses a problem for the Madrid coach, as the team struggles to create scoring opportunities and Mbappé is always a crucial attacking weapon.

The opportunity due to the absence of the French striker will again be seized by Gonzalo García, who scored Madrid's only goal in the draw against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the first round. With Xabi Alonso, it is very likely that the young talents from La Fábrica will get more playing time than under Ancelotti. Moreover, the regular players' physical condition is not good, so it would not be surprising to see some academy players replacing the team's established stars in the second half.

Real Madrid's signings, Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold, debuted in the first round of the World Cup and will be starters again against Pachuca. Huijsen had a very promising debut, showing defensive solidity, but above all, he stood out for his excellent ball distribution and vision. Alexander-Arnold will need to be more involved in defensive tasks and more engaged in creation against Pachuca to unite a team that lacked inspiration.

The key to the match will lie with some players who have been criticized for their poor form and need to make a statement. Mainly, Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Bellingham have not been able to be the difference-makers in tight matches. Even Courtois, who was always the most reliable, now cannot hide the team's frustration. The Belgian goalkeeper admitted after the World Cup draw that last season's problems would not be solved in one match. Therefore, this match against Pachuca will focus more on improvement, although the team is under pressure to win, as only victory is acceptable at Real Madrid.

The heat, physical condition, and negative momentum from last season led to a lacklustre performance in their first match, and expectations have diminished after the recent setback. Xabi Alonso knows he has a lot of work to do and will focus on correcting tactical aspects to build a dominant Real Madrid, as he did with Bayer Leverkusen, but it will be a slow process. Additionally, he must restore the best form of some players whose performance has declined.

The Club World Cup has come at a bad time for the team, but it is a competition that excites Madridistas due to the prestige of winning it. Despite the context, Madrid is the clear favourite to win the match and qualify for the first knockout round, looking to conclude the first phase against Salzburg in the early hours of Thursday to Friday, as Europe's most decorated team should never be underestimated.