Real Madrid are looking for another piece of silverware as they face Mexican side Pachuca in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday evening.
The six confederation champions clash once again at the end of the year in a bid to claim global supremacy. Madrid will play their first match of the tournament on Wednesday after lifting the 2024 Champions League trophy in June.
Carlo Ancelotti's men were crowned world champions for the eighth time last year and are heavy favorites to secure a ninth title in Qatar.
Pachuca have spoiled the odds to advance in Wednesday's event. They won their sixth CONCACAF Champions Cup title earlier this year to qualify for the Intercontinental Cup. So far, they have stunned Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo and African giants Al Ahly to set up this historic meeting with Madrid.
Here it is 90 minutes game preview.
Real Madrid vs Pachuca H2H record
This is the first competitive meeting between Real Madrid and Pachuca.
Current form (all competitions)
|
Real Madrid |
Pachuca |
|---|---|
|
Rayo Vallecano 3-3 Real Madrid – 14.12.24 |
Pachuca 0-0 (6-5p) Al Ahly – 14/12/24 |
|
Atalanta 2-3 Real Madrid – 10/12/24 |
Botafogo 0-3 Pachuca – 11/12/24 |
|
Girona 0-3 Real Madrid – 07/12/24 |
Pachuca 0-1 Juarez – 10/11/24 |
|
Athletic Club 2-1 Real Madrid – 04/12/24 |
Club America 1-0 Pachuca – 07/11/24 |
|
Real Madrid 2-0 Getafe – 01/12/24 |
Pachuca 6-2 Necaxa – 03/11/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live streaming |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
DAZN UK |
|
United States |
Fanatiz USA, fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español |
|
Canada |
beIN SPORTS CONNECT Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fanatiz Canada, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN Sports Canada |
Madrid's injury problems have eased in time for the Intercontinental Cup final. Most importantly, Kylian Mbappe, who missed the 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano, is set to return to Ancelotti's XI recovered from a thigh injury.
Mbappe fired Bergamo on his previous outing for Los Blancos before his first-half withdrawal. The Frenchman will work together 2024 Men's Player of the Year winner Vinicius Junior.
Eduardo Camavinga returned to the Madrid squad at the weekend and is in contention to start in midfield. Aurelien Tchouameni should again partner Antonio Rudiger at center back.
David Alaba, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal are all out.
Real Madrid predicted formation against Pachuca (4-3-3): polite; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Garcia; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
A familiar face Premier League the audience turns out for Pachuca on Tuesday evening with Salomon Rondo ready to lead the line for the Mexican side. Since joining the club in January, the former West Brom, Newcastle and Everton forward has scored 26 times to propel Pachuca to their current position. He was the top scorer in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Mexicans have few injury worries heading into the final and we should see similar lineups from the wins over Botafogo and Al Ahly, although Israel Luna is a doubt with a knee problem.
Pachuca predicted formation against Real Madrid (4-5-1): Moreno; Rodriguez, Cabral, Micolta, Gonzalez; Montiel, Pedraza, Deossa, Bautista, Idrissi; Rondon.
Pachuca are the surprise finalists and Madrid are heavy favorites to win in Lusail. While there is a chance for the underdogs to use the momentum gained in Qatar against a Madrid side that could be caught cold, the gap in quality should be too great for the Mexicans to overcome.
Pachuca rely on a 35-year-old Rondon for a source of attacking inspiration, and although the Spaniards have struggled defensively this season, particularly of late, it is hard to predict Ancelotti's most troubling CONCACAF side on Wednesday.
Madrid have continued to push forward with Mbappe back offering hints of his most devastating form. Expect the perennial European champions to win a race here.