A new era has begun at Real Madrid, with Xabi Alonso taking over as head coach and facing the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as his first major test on the bench. Fortunately, Alonso’s challenge is getting a bit easier, as he welcomes back a key player from injury for the upcoming match against Pachuca.
Real Madrid entered the tournament dealing with a number of injuries, most notably the absence of Kylian Mbappe, who missed the opening game against Al Hilal. But now, some much-needed good news has arrived for the Spanish giants.
Antonio Rudiger has been included in the squad for Matchday 2 against Pachuca. Xabi Alonso provided a positive update on the German defender during Saturday’s press conference, offering some relief for Madrid fans.
“Rudiger has been medically cleared and is back in the squad after the surgery he had. He’s going to be a very important player. We have to proceed gradually, but we’re happy,” Alonso said about the German defender.
Alonso also addressed the status of other injured stars — including Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavi nga, and Dani Carvajal — who remain sidelined for now: “As for the rest, the medical report hasn’t changed much since the other day. They need a bit more time and we have to be patient because these are longer-term injuries that require more training sessions before they’re ready to be available.”
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Why isn’t Kylian Mbappé playing for Real Madrid against Pachuca in FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
Rüdiger’s race against the clock
Rudiger’s knee injury has been a major concern throughout the 2024-25 season. The center-back suffered a partial tear of the lateral meniscus in his left knee. Just three days after Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona — a match in which he played while already injured — he underwent surgery on April 29. Still, he was included in the squad that traveled to the Club World Cup.
The initial recovery timeline was set at six to eight weeks before he could be medically cleared, with full match fitness expected to take additional time. But Rudiger has managed to complete his recovery ahead of schedule, overcoming the pain that plagued him for most of the season. While he’s not expected to start against Pachuca, his return is a significant boost to Xabi Alonso’s options.
