It was a high-stakes debut for Xabi Alonso, who led Real Madrid for the first time in an official match. The team played Al Hilal in their opener, ending in a 1-1 draw that showcased both emotional moments and critical mistakes.
Real Madrid took the lead in the 33rd minute thanks to a well-crafted play finished by young forward Gonzalo García, who showed confidence and personality in his first official start. But the lead didn’t last long—just five minutes later, Rúben Neves converted a penalty kick to level the score for Al Hilal.
Now, Xabi Alonso and his squad are looking to secure their first win in the tournament against a Pachuca side that also debuted earlier this week.
This Sunday, June 22, Real Madrid and Pachuca will face off at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, for their second matchday in the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Both teams are aiming for three points to boost their chances of advancing to the knockout stage in this new expanded format of the Club World Cup.
see also
How to watch Real Madrid vs Pachuca in the USA: Live Stream and TV for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Real Madrid vs. Pachuca: Starting lineups
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raúl Asencio, Dean Huijsen, Fran García; Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham; Arda Guler, Gonzalo García, Vinícius Júnior.
see also
Why isn’t Kylian Mbappé playing for Real Madrid against Pachuca in FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
Pachuca: Carlos Moreno; Luis Rodríguez, Eduardo Bauermann, Federico Pereira, Bryan González; Elías Montiel, Alan Bautista, Agustín Palavecino; Alexei Domínguez, Salomón Rondón, Robert Kennedy.
see also
Xabi Alonso recovers key Real Madrid player prior to FIFA Club World Cup 2025 game vs. Pachuca
