Real Madrid‘s debut in the Club World Cup did not go as expected. The Whites could not get past a draw against Al Hilal in a match where the ghosts of the past came back to haunt them with a vengeance. Xabi Alonso’s men did not perform as expected, and the green shoots of progress were nowhere to be seen after just a week of training. There is a lot to do, but time is running out as the second match of the tournament is coming up on Sunday, when the Whites will face Pachuca at 9 p.m.
“We knew it, anyone who thought that everything was going to work perfectly… We knew that some things would work well, others we have to keep working on to improve. In the second half, I saw a reaction; everything comes in its own time. We’ve been here for nine days, with three training sessions, and this is a process. We’re under pressure to get results, but what we want to be also takes time,” said Xabi Alonso, analyzing the draw against Al-Hilal.
It’s time to wipe the slate clean for a game in which there is a lot at stake. There is no other option than to win to have a chance of qualifying for the next round of the tournament, and to do that we have to finish in the top two in the group. Right now, RB Salzburg leads Group H with three points, followed by Real Madrid and Al-Hilal with one point each, while Pachuca is bottom after being defeated by the Austrians.
Regarding the Mexican opponent, Xabi Alonso said that “almost all the teams in this group have new coaches. Us, Al Hilal, and Pachuca. Last year, Madrid played against them in the Intercontinental Cup, and it was an even match. In the end, we won. Every team is of a high standard, and we saw that today. It will also be demanding.”
Brahim and Arda Güler will be important
One of the conclusions that Xabi Alonso has drawn from the first match is the importance of Arda Güler to the team. Against Al Hilal, the Turkish player came on in the second half and took just 30 seconds to make his mark with a shot that hit the crossbar. He was very active throughout, looking to deliver several dangerous crosses and trying his luck with a shot. He is certainly aiming for a place in the starting line-up after his impressive performance off the bench. His good work makes him a candidate for a starting spot.
Another player who has impressed Xabi Alonso is Brahim. The Malaga-born player came on and shook things up for Madrid against Al Hilal. The coach is delighted with his attitude and ability, so he could also earn a place in the starting eleven. The coach will undoubtedly have to start proving whether what he said about performance and hard work coming before names is true.
Absentees
Dani Carvajal, who has also had neck problems, Eder Militao and Alaba are still recovering from injury for this match. Camavinga continues with specific work, while Rüdiger will be included in the squad and could get some minutes. Kylian Mbappé will not be available as he is still recovering from gastroenteritis that took him to hospital. The Frenchman is improving, but he has not trained for days and will not be fit for this match. However, he is expected to make his debut against Salzburg in what looks set to be a decisive match.
Possible Real Madrid XI
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
Defenders: Fran García, Asencio, Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Tchouaméni or Brahim, Fede Valverde, Bellingham
Forwards: Vinicius, Arda Güler, and Gonzalo García