Three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Pachuca | FIFA Club World Cup | OneFootball

If Xabi Alonso was hoping for a statement win from his men in his first game in charge as the Real Madrid manager, he could not have been more disappointed.

The new manager, after all, oversaw his team play out a terrible opening 45 minutes and scamper to a 1-1 draw.

Later tonight, they take to the field in their second game of the event in the United States and face off against Mexican side Pachuca who lost their first game in the competition to RB Salzburg earlier in the week.

Alonso has a lot to ponder ahead of kick-off, right from his starting lineup to the dynamics he wishes to impose.

What will be under the spotlight, needless to say, is whether the men in white show any tangible improvement from last time.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Pachuca.

A surprising re-match

Real Madrid beat Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Real Madrid facing Pachuca in the FIFA Club World Cup in itself is a pleasant surprise, especially considering the manner in which they met recently just towards the end of last year.

For two clubs to face each other once in a cross-continental event is rare enough, and the two teams managed to pull off a date with each other last December in the final of the Intercontinental Cup.

The event, in fact, was initially known as the Club World Cup until the idea for the current competition was envisaged last summer.

Having met in the ‘former’ Club World Cup a few months ago, the two teams are set to face off once again in the ‘new’ version of the competition and one is forced to wonder what a rare combination has struck that the Intercontinental Cup finalists have been drawn into the same group once more.

Contrary to popular expectation, the meeting between the two teams last year was fiercely fought and far from one-sided despite Real Madrid being overwhelming favourites.

The 3-0 scoreline may project a stroll in the park for Los Blancos on the night but the first half was tense and Real Madrid had few chances to boast of.

Tonight, they will look to replicate a similar result, although they will be aware this time of the threat the Mexican side can bring to the table.

Should Brahim Diaz start?

Brahim Diaz deserves a starting role. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

For his first game in charge as the Real Madrid manager, Alonso opted to deploy Rodrygo Goes as his right-winger, and the Brazilian returned with a crucial assist for the team.

Beyond that, however, he did not offer too much special, and Brahim Diaz replacing him past the hour mark saw significantly more threat created from the position.

Ahead of tonight’s clash, the new manager faces a dilemma of whether he should persist with Rodrygo or give Brahim the start against Pachuca. After all, there is a real need for someone to step up on the flank.

Vinicius Jr. has looked off colour for a long time now, and Kylian Mbappe is set to miss out once more against the Mexican side. The player who starts on the right, thus, may well prove to be the most important cog in the final third.

Diaz has done enough in recent training sessions and his opportunity earlier this week to earn the manager’s trust and reports earlier this week made it clear that the coach heavily counts on the Moroccan star in both the medium and the long term.

Tonight could be a big night for the winger who has been longing for a break at the club of his dreams for a long time now.

A must-win of sorts

Real Madrid need to win this game. (Photo by Sandra Montanez/Getty Images)

In a competition with only three games for each team in the group stage, every result counts monumentally. Real Madrid may be the favourites to make it past the group stage but their draw against Al-Hilal did not earn them any favours.

Ahead of match-day 2, Los Blancos are on just one point after their unexpected draw with Al-Hilal and sit behind RB Salzburg who took down Pachuca with a 2-1 scoreline.

Two games remain in the group stage and tonight is the men in white’s easiest game of the group stage.

Given that Salzburg could give Los Blancos a real tough time, taking all three points against Pachuca is absolutely crucial.

A win tonight will take the Merengues to four points, and put them in a good place to qualify. Should they drop even two points, they will sit on two points and could risk losing out on making it out of the group. A big test awaits.