Ten-Man Real Madrid Overcomes Early Red Card to Beat Pachuca 3-1 Charlotte, NC – June 22, 2025

Ten-Man Real Madrid Overcomes Early Red Card to Beat Pachuca 3-1 Charlotte, NC – June 22, 2025 – Real Madrid, playing with ten men for almost the entire match, displayed remarkable resilience and quality to secure a 3-1 victory over Pachuca in their second FIFA Club World Cup Group H encounter at Bank of America Stadium today. The win marks a significant turnaround for the Spanish giants after their opening draw and puts them in a strong position in the group. The match began in dramatic fashion when Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio was shown a straight red card in just the 7th minute for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. This early setback left manager Xabi Alonso's side with an uphill battle. Despite being a man down, Real Madrid showed their class. Jude Bellingham continued his sensational form, opening the scoring in the 35th minute with a well-taken goal. Just eight minutes later, teenage sensation Arda Güler doubled Madrid's lead in the 43rd minute, showcasing his burgeoning talent with a precise finish. Real Madrid went into halftime with a surprising 2-0 lead, having absorbed significant pressure from Pachuca. The Mexican side pressed hard in the second half, creating numerous chances and forcing Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into a string of impressive saves. Courtois was a standout performer, making several crucial interventions to keep Pachuca at bay. Real Madrid, however, found a way to extend their lead in the 70th minute when Federico Valverde scored with a sliding volley, effectively sealing the victory for the European champions. Pachuca did manage to pull one back in the 80th minute through Elias Montiel, whose shot took a deflection before finding the back of the net. The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought 3-1 win for Real Madrid. The victory, Xabi Alonso's first as Real Madrid manager, moves them to the top of Group H with four points from two matches. Pachuca, unfortunately, remains at the bottom of the group with two losses from two games, making their chances of progression highly unlikely.