Real Madrid's Rising Talents Shine Bright in Commanding Victory Over Pachuca

Real Madrid claimed their inaugural triumph under Xabi Alonso's management with a commanding 3-1 victory over Pachuca in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Following a disappointing draw with Al Hilal in Alonso's managerial debut, Real Madrid delivered an emphatic response in Charlotte. Despite Raúl Asencio receiving a red card in the seventh minute, Los Blancos controlled proceedings at Bank of America Stadium.

Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a thunderous left-footed effort to give his ten-man team the advantage. Arda Güler then extended Real Madrid's lead just eight minutes later in what was his first starting appearance under Alonso.

Fede Valverde put the result beyond doubt with a second-half strike, making amends for his penalty miss against Al Hilal. Pachuca pulled one back in the 80th minute, but it couldn't overshadow Los Blancos' impressive display in Charlotte.

Below are three key observations from Real Madrid's maiden FIFA Club World Cup triumph.

Real Madrid's Young Talent Steal the Show

In a squad packed with established, trophy-laden superstars, it was 20-year-old Dean Huijsen, 20-year-old Güler and 21-year-old Gonzalo García who captured the spotlight at Bank of America Stadium.

While much attention focused on Trent Alexander-Arnold's signing, Huijsen has been the player who has integrated effortlessly into Real Madrid's setup. The ex-Bournemouth center-back impressed on his debut against Al Hilal and delivered an even stronger showing against Pachuca. Playing with ten men alongside natural midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, Huijsen produced a calm, influential performance that helped Los Blancos limit their opponents to just one goal.

Güler, meanwhile, finally received the opportunity to operate centrally as a number 10 in his maiden start under Alonso. The Turkish international was preferred over Rodrygo and justified his manager's faith with a well-taken goal. The 20-year-old's potential is extraordinary; from his devastating left foot to his inventiveness in advanced areas, Güler is gradually demonstrating to Alonso why he merits a regular spot in Real Madrid's starting lineup.

Though García had a more subdued outing compared to Huijsen and Güler, he still provided the assist for the latter's strike. The striker now boasts two goals and two assists in merely 170 minutes of first-team action this campaign. While the Real Madrid Castilla graduate will eventually make way for Kylian Mbappé, he has certainly secured a place in Alonso's squad for the 2025-26 season.

Raúl Asencio's Days As a Starter Are Numbered

Following his rapid ascent during Carlo Ancelotti's final tenure, Asencio has produced consecutive disappointing displays under Alonso's guidance. The former Real Madrid Castilla defender gave away a penalty in Real Madrid's opening match against Al Hilal that proved decisive in costing his team victory. Subsequently, he was dismissed within seven minutes against Pachuca.

These incidents went beyond simple errors—they represented serious lapses in concentration that are unacceptable, particularly when playing for the world's most prestigious club. Rather than maintaining composure and utilizing his physical attributes defensively, Asencio resorted to reckless, unnecessary challenges in two crucial moments.

Regardless of his impressive debut campaign with the senior squad, Asencio will probably receive few, if any, additional chances to impress his new boss. The arrival of Dean Huijsen, combined with Antonio Rüdiger's early return, will restrict Asencio's playing time not only during this summer's tour in the United States, but also going forward.

Furthermore, once Éder Militão and David Alaba complete their recoveries from injury, Asencio might drop to fifth in Alonso's defensive hierarchy. Should this occur, he would have only himself to blame.

Question Marks Still Surround Real Madrid's Attack

Despite the convincing scoreline, Real Madrid continue to face several unresolved issues in attack. Vinícius Júnior again struggled to make a meaningful contribution, registering only one chance created and zero shots during his 87 minutes on the field. The Brazilian has scored merely twice in his previous 16 outings, a significant decline from his Ballon d'Or-caliber performances in the 2023-24 campaign.

Rodrygo also remains a subject of discussion after the winger was absent from the match. The 24-year-old was benched in favor of Güler and didn't even feature as a substitute. With transfer rumors intensifying, Rodrygo's future at the club remains questionable, particularly given Franco Mastantuono's expected arrival.

The Brazilian's position on the right flank could also be challenged by an unexpected candidate in Valverde. Alonso chose to deploy the Uruguayan on the right wing against Pachuca, and the versatile midfielder responded with a goal.

Valverde's adaptability across multiple positions is well-documented; he spent considerable time at right-back last season and also contributed to Real Madrid's 2022 Champions League final victory from the right wing. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether Alonso will expand the 26-year-old's attacking responsibilities to accommodate Güler or return to a front three featuring Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé and Rodrygo.

Regardless, numerous tactical decisions await Alonso, and his choices will ultimately determine Real Madrid's progress in the FIFA Club World Cup.