The Stats That Define a Crucial Club World Cup Clash: Real Madrid vs Pachuca

After a gap of just over six months, Real Madrid is set to face Pachuca again, but this time with a different backdrop.

In their previous encounter back in December, Los Blancos secured a convincing 3-0 victory, clinching the Intercontinental Cup—a rebranding of the Club World Cup, which has since undergone a revamp to its current format.

That day, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Jr. all found the net for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, showcasing a dominant display against a side that had previously defeated Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo to reach the final.

Pachuca earned their place at this summer’s prestigious event by winning the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, and they are now under new leadership with Jaime Lozano stepping in as interim manager following Guillermo Almada’s exit.

Lozano is acutely aware of the challenge ahead, especially given Pachuca’s dismal record against European teams. So far, the Liga MX outfit has not tasted victory against clubs from the continent, having recorded two draws and three losses.

Pachuca’s Disappointing History Against European Sides

Their attempts have resulted in a combined record of two draws and three losses: a 0-0 draw against PSV Eindhoven and a 3-4 defeat to Celta Vigo in 2017, a 1-1 draw with Real Oviedo in 2023, the previously noted 3-0 loss to Real Madrid at the end of 2024, and most recently, a 2-1 defeat to RB Salzburg in their Club World Cup opener.

Real Madrid arrives at this match in solid form, having lost only once in their last six outings across all competitions—the late El Clasico against Barcelona. However, a draw against Al Hilal, which ended their flawless record against Saudi Arabian teams, will have left a bitter taste.

In their last outing against Al Hilal, Real Madrid faced intense pressure early on and were fortunate not to fall behind due to a well-timed offside call. They eventually took the lead through a scrappy goal from Gonzalo Garcia.

Equalisation came from a penalty, expertly converted by Ruben Neves, but a last-minute opportunity at the other end to secure all three points was thwarted by an impressive save from Yassine Bounou, denying Federico Valverde.

Trent Alexander-Arnold had a mixed debut performance, where, despite providing five crosses and 16 passes in the final third—leading his team in both metrics—he also lost possession twelve times, more than any of his teammates.

Arda Guler, on the other hand, made a strong impression during his second-half appearance, which could provide coach Xabi Alonso with a dilemma ahead of this upcoming clash.

Salomon Rondon set to spearhead Pachuca’s attack

Pachuca’s recent record shows they’ve struggled, having lost three of their last six matches, with only two wins and one draw.

At 35, Salomon Rondon, who possesses extensive European experience, will be central to Pachuca’s efforts against a Real Madrid outfit that was Champions League winners just a year ago.

He faces a tough match-up against a valiant defender like Dean Huijsen, and Rondon will need to be at his best if he hopes to make an impact.

Fortunately for him, he enters this match fresh off an impressive 2024/25 season, where he netted 15 goals and provided five assists—the highest tally in Liga MX.

Moreover, Rondon’s 102 shots lead the team, showcasing his eagerness to contribute offensively.

His efforts against Salzburg demonstrated his capabilities, as he nearly scored on two occasions, before being denied by goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky.

Key individual matchups will be crucial

After falling behind, Bryan Gonzalez managed to get Pachuca back on level terms in the last match, showcasing their resilience despite ultimately losing after Karim Onisiwo’s 75th-minute winner. This incident highlighted their determination, with Pachuca demonstrating their attacking qualities by recording a strong shooting presence, including six shots compared to Salzburg’s meagre attempts in the second half.

With 77.5% possession in the closing stages of the match, it’s clear Pachuca fought until the final whistle.

This Sunday’s clash is set to feature some fascinating individual matchups.

The emerging defensive duo of Raul Asencio and Huijsen will have their hands full contending with Rondon, while Agustin Palavecino will need to keep Federico Valverde, who boasts an impressive 96.2% pass completion rate against Al Hilal, in check.

Trent may also find his attacking runs curtailed, as both his opposing counterparts, Gonzalez and the former Chelsea star Kenedy, are anticipated to push forward.

Kenedy had the highest touches of any Pachuca player in the Salzburg box (six), while Gonzalez recorded the joint second-most shots in the match (three).

Considering the group standings, Xabi Alonso will undoubtedly be looking for improvements across the board, particularly with ball possession and control, having only achieved a 52% share against Al Hilal.