Less than a week to go until Real Madrid makes its debut in the Club World Cup. The tournament officially kicks off this Saturday, December 14, although the Whites will not start until the 18th, when they play their first match. The club has strengthened its squad with two new players and is getting back to full strength for what is nothing less than returning from the United States with the title under its belt. It would be the perfect start to what is expected to be a successful and title-filled era for Xabi Alonso.
How the group stage opponents play
As we said, Real Madrid’s journey begins on the 18th with the group stage. That will be the first step on the road to the final, for which the team will have to go through the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals to lift a title that is a priority for a team that has promised a million-euro bonus to its players.
The first step on the road will be Al Hilal. The club has signed Simone Inzaghi as its new coach and has brought in two new players: Ali Lajami, from Al-Nassr, and Abdulkarim Darisi, from Al-Ahli. The arrival of the former Inter coach makes it unclear what he will bring to the pitch. Al Hilal qualified for this Club World Cup thanks to their title in the 2021 AFC Champions League. With this victory, Al Hilal consolidated their position as the most successful club in the tournament.
The Arab side has tried to make some big signings to strengthen its squad ahead of the clash with Real Madrid, but has failed to secure any of the big stars it has targeted. Now it will be up to Bono, Milinkovic-Savic, Koulibaly, Neves, Mirkovic, Marcos Leonardo, and Malcolm to lead the charge.
Real Madrid’s second match will be against Pachuca. The Mexican side has signed four players on loan: Agustín Palavecino, Robert Kenedy, José Castillo, and Federico Pereira. Pachuca has a distinctive style of play under Guillermo Almada. They play with great intensity in every match, go out to win, and never give up, so concentration and physical endurance will be key to beating the Mexicans.
The last opponent in the group will be Salzburg, which has been the most active in the transfer market with five signings. Defenders Jacob Rasmussen, Amar Dedic, Stefan Lainer, and midfielders Sota Kitano and Frans Krätzig. Salzburg has proven to be dangerous in set pieces and is strong in the air, so the defense of players such as Dean Huijsen will be key. The Austrian team, with its daring style and young players, will be a tough opponent for Xabi Alonso’s side, which is still a team under construction.
The rivals to beat in the World Cup
According to forecasts by Opta, the British company dedicated to performance analysis and sports statistics, the three main candidates to win the World Cup are PSG (France), Manchester City (England), and Bayern Munich. After last season, AI ranks Real Madrid fifth. Luis Enrique’s great season with PSG and a stratospheric Dembelé place them as the main contenders after crushing Inter Milan in the Champions League final. City are coming off a bad season, but they have strengthened their squad and Guardiola’s magic with teams that like to have possession will make things difficult. Guardiola’s City could be the first tough hurdle for Xabi Alonso.
If Real Madrid manages to qualify as first in Group H, they will face the second-placed team in Group G, again in Miami on Tuesday, July 1, at 9 p.m. Group G consists of Manchester City, Juventus, Wydad AC, and Al Ain. If they finish second in the group, they will face the first-placed team in Group G one day earlier, on June 30, at 4 a.m. in Orlando.
With Luis Enrique’s PSG, Real Madrid would not have the chance to face them until the semi-finals, where groups A to D would meet groups E to H. The Whites want to emerge victorious from the tournament, but it will not be an easy task given the level of competition in this highly competitive World Cup.