Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the FIFA Club World Cup match.
Following an unexpected draw against Al-Hilal, Real Madrid have no room for error — only a victory will ensure they advance from the group stage. However, Pachuca, who were narrowly defeated by Red Bull Salzburg in their opening fixture, face elimination with another loss. They are unlikely to make things easy for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid have yet to showcase the level of football one would expect from a squad of their calibre and ambition. The team dropped points in their opening match, finishing 1:1 against Al-Hilal. They never looked in full control of the game. While the Spaniards recorded 2.64 xG against 1.88 xG, they struggled particularly in the first half. The absence of Kylian Mbappé has clearly affected their attacking sharpness. Even when Mbappé was available, Real Madrid had failed to score more than two goals in three consecutive matches prior to the Club World Cup.
Pachuca
Pachuca were narrowly beaten 2:1 by Red Bull Salzburg, but the underlying statistics indicate a closely fought contest. They registered 17 shots and 1.40 xG, compared with 0.91 xG from Red Bull Salzburg. Moreover, the Mexicans have not lost a competitive match by more than two goals in any of their last 21 fixtures. Salomón Rondón continues to lead the line with authority, having been the top scorer in the CONCACAF Champions League with nine goals and finding the net 15 times in the Mexican league.
Real Madrid vs Pachuca Prediction
Given Real Madrid’s inconsistent form, the absence of Kylian Mbappé, vulnerabilities in defence, and Pachuca’s resilience, this fixture is expected to be closely contested. The Mexicans are likely to put up a strong fight, and even in defeat, the margin is unlikely to be wide.
