Real Madrid vs Pachuca predictions: Madrid to edge out Mexicans
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- Five of Real's last seven matches have seen both teams score
- Real have kept a clean sheet in just two of their last seven matches
- Recommended bet: Real Madrid to win & both teams to score
Real Madrid remain among the favourites for Club World Cup glory despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Al Ahly in their tournament opener.
The Spanish giants are still getting used to life under new boss Xabi Alonso and his methods may take time to bear fruit, while a raft of defensive injuries mean Los Blancos may not have things all their own way against Pachuca in Florida on Sunday.
Team news
Superstar Real forward Kylian Mbappe remains a major doubt after he was hospitalised on Thursday with acute gastroenteritis.
Madrid have a lengthy injury list in their defensive cohort and Antonio Rudiger has the best chance of making the squad, but doubts remain over Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga.
Ferland Mendy and Endrick are ruled out, but new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen should keep their starting places.
Pachuca have no injury concerns and head coach Jaime Lozano may name an unchanged side from the one that lost narrowly to RB Salzburg.
The stats
Real Madrid have kept a clean sheet in just two of their last seven matches and five of their last seven matches have seen both teams score.
Real won their only previous meeting between these two sides, 3-0 at the 2024 Club World Cup.
Pachuca had 17 shots in their 2-1 defeat to RB Salzburg in their CWC opener.
Prediction
Real Madrid were thwarted by a stubborn Al Ahly side in their first fixture of this Club World Cup and they may find Mexican outfit Pachuca a tough nut to crack at the Hard Rock Stadium.
There is a gulf in class between the sides in terms of playing staff, but Real are under new management and the difference in style between former boss Carlo Ancelotti and new manager Alonso could take time for LaLiga side to come to terms with.
Alonso's first game in charge yielded an underwhelming performance and it may not be until next season's LaLiga campaign that we see the former European champions back in full flight.
That said, they should still be too strong for Pachuca and a Real win in which both teams score looks a likely outcome.
The men from Madrid have struggled to keep clean sheets recently and they are having to make do with a patched-up defensive line-up with several key men still absent.
Pachuca were unlucky to lose 2-1 to Salzburg in their tournament opener and there was enough in their 17 shots to suggest that they can create chances against Alonso's outfit, so at least one goal from the Mexicans may not be out of reach.
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