Real Madrid Beat Pachuca 3-1 Despite Red Card in Club World Cup

Real Madrid overcame a 7th-minute red card to defeat Pachuca 3-1 at Bank of America Stadium. Goals from Bellingham (35'), Guler (37') and Valverde (70') sealed the win. Elias Montiel scored a late consolation for Pachuca. Madrid now lead Group H with 4 points, while Pachuca are eliminated after two consecutive losses.

With the win, Real Madrid secured their first victory in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 by defeating Mexico’s Pachuca 3-1, despite playing with ten men for most of the match. The game, held at the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina, saw Madrid overcome an early setback when Raul Asencio received a red card in the 7th minute for a foul on Salomon Rondon. Pachuca pressured initially, but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made crucial saves to keep the score level.

Madrid took control in the 35th minute, with Jude Bellingham finishing off a smooth move to make it 1-0. Just two minutes later, Arda Guler doubled the lead after a precise assist from Gonzalo Garcia via a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Madrid’s organisation and quality shone through.

In the second half, Pachuca launched several attacks, but Courtois held firm. Federico Valverde sealed the win in the 70th minute with a third goal after combining with Brahim Diaz. Elias Montiel scored a consolation goal for Pachuca late in the match, but it was not enough. Madrid now leads Group H with 4 points, while Pachuca are eliminated after consecutive losses in the tournament.