Real Madrid faces a critical test as they aim to restore their honor following a draw in their first match of the Club World Cup. The team is under pressure to deliver, especially given their status as favorites in a tournament that has already seen surprises, including Pachuca’s recent upset potential despite a loss to Red Bull Salzburg.
Xabi Alonso, who recently took over as coach, is still in the early stages of shaping his squad after a lackluster season. He faces additional challenges, including the absence of star player Kylian Mbappé, who missed the match against Al Hilal due to illness and will not be available for the upcoming clash against Pachuca.
Pachuca will look to Venezuelan striker Salomón Rondón to spearhead their attack. The highly anticipated match is set to take place at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, which can accommodate up to 74,000 spectators.
The match will be officiated by Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti, who previously refereed a match between Manchester City and Wydad.
Potential lineups for the match include:
**Real Madrid:** Courtois, García, Huijsen, Asensio, Alexander-Arnold, Valverde, Tchouaméni, Vinicius, Bellingham, Rodrygo, and García.
**Pachuca:** Moreno, Rodríguez, Bauermann, Pereira, González, Pedraza, Montiel, Domínguez, Kennedy, Palavecino, and Rondón.
The match time is as follows:
– Eastern Time (U.S./Miami): 3 p.m.
– Colombia: 2 p.m.
– Mexico: 1 p.m.
– Argentina: 4 p.m.
– Spain: 9 p.m.
Viewers in Latin America can catch the game on DAZN, while it’s available on various platforms in Mexico (DAZN, TUDN, VIX, Canal 5) and Argentina (DAZN, DirecTV), as well as Spain (DAZN, Telecinco).
This match represents an opportunity for Real Madrid to bounce back and reaffirm their dominance in international football, while Pachuca aims to capitalize on any vulnerabilities from the Madrid side. It promises to be an exciting encounter with significant implications for both teams.