Xabi Alonso claimed his first win in charge of Real Madrid as 10-man Los Blancos defeated Mexico’s Pachuca in the FIFA Club World Cup thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Federico Valverde on June 22.
The fixture in Charlotte, North Carolina offered glimpses of the challenges and potential within the new head coach’s squad as Trent Alexander-Arnold impressed amid sweltering heat and Raul Asencio was sent off inside eight minutes.
Real Madrid, visibly fatigued from a relentless schedule, struggled to find rhythm in the opening stages but got their opener following a first-half cooling break when Bellingham opened the scoring after combining with Fran Garcia, finishing with precision with his left foot.
Minutes later in the 43rd when Gonzalo Garcia controlled a pass from Alexander-Arnold and laid it off for Guler, who atoned for earlier mistakes with a composed finish to make it 2-0.
Alonso praises unsung hero
“He’s one of those players who must be close to the ball,” Alonso said of Guler. “The more touches he has, the better he will play and the better the team plays.”
Madrid extended their lead to 3-0 midway through the second half when Valverde struck in the 70th minute by getting an out-stretched left leg on the end of a ball from Brahim Diaz to poke past the goalkeeper and seal the win.
Pachuca, however, continued to press and forced Thibault Courtois into a string of good saves against the UEFA and La Liga powerhouse, and were finally rewarded in the 80th minute when Elias Montiel pulled one back, though they were unable to close the gap further.
Real Madrid fans had turned out in force in Charlotte, many paying upwards of $300 for resale tickets to see their team and they were rewarded with the win that sees the Spanish giants move to the top of Group H – although RB Salzburg are yet to play against Al Hilal.
Madrid’s final game will be against Salzburg on Thursday, June 26 as they aim to book their passage to the knockout stages to earn a shot at the $125m prize money offered by FIFA at the 2025 Club World Cup.
Trent shows Real Madrid why they signed him from Liverpool
Trent had contributed significantly by displaying his trademark ability to drift centrally from full-back, he delivered a sharp ball across to Garcia, showing what Alonso should expect when he’s up to speed in the system.
The Englishman, criticized for a nervy debut against Al-Hilal, responded with composure, positional intelligence, and sharp ball distribution. When he was substituted in the 78th minute, the crowd acknowledged his performance with applause.
“[Alexander-Arnold] has done it at Liverpool and in the national team,” Alonso said of the star. “He is a different full-back, not just from the outside lane.
“He can go inside a little bit and associate. What happens around is important… having his foot and his understanding of the game is very positive.”
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