Real Madrid vs CF Pachuca predictions, odds and betting tips
AFTER a disappointing draw in their opening match against Al-Hilal, Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back with a win when they face Pachuca in North Carolina on Sunday.
For Pachuca, the situation is worse. They lost their opening match 2-1 to RB Salzburg and know another defeat here means they can start packing their bags for the journey home.
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Real Madrid vs Pachuca odds
Find the latest football betting odds for Real Madrid vs Pachuca here. Our odds are provided by our recommended football betting sites and are subject to change.
Real Madrid face Pachuca in a pivotal Group H clash at the FIFA Club World Cup, with both sides in need of a result after disappointing starts to their respective campaigns.
Madrid opened with a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in what was a flat performance by their standards.
Under new manager Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos struggled to assert themselves. Much like they did under Carlo Ancelotti over the last few months, they lacked a clear attacking rhythm and were ultimately punished for their wastefulness.
Federico Valverde had the chance to snatch a win in stoppage time but saw his penalty saved, leaving Madrid with just a point - and plenty to prove.
Despite the setback, Real remain favourites to win Group H, though their odds have drifted slightly to 2/5.
They're also no longer the frontrunners to lift the trophy outright - thanks largely to PSG's emphatic demolition of Atletico Madrid on the opening weekend. Having started the tournament as 3/1 favourites, Madrid are now priced at 6/1.
Meanwhile, Pachuca fell to a 2-1 defeat against Red Bull Salzburg in their opener. The Mexican side matched the Austrians in terms of possession and shots, but lacked a clinical edge and were outmanoeuvred in the key moments by their sharper European opponents.
It wasn't all bad news for Jaime Lozano's men. After falling behind to an Oscar Gloukh strike just before half-time, they responded well and drew level through Bryan González in the 56th minute.
Both sides pushed for a late winner, but it was Salzburg substitute Karim Onisiwo who found the breakthrough, leaving Pachuca bottom of the group and now facing a must-win match against Madrid to keep their hopes of progression alive.
Real Madrid vs Pachuca betting tips
This won't be the first time these two sides have met this season. Real Madrid comfortably dispatched Pachuca 3-0 in the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup final, a performance that highlighted the gulf in quality between the two squads. Our match betting tips on the rematch are below:
Real Madrid -1 to win on handicap
When these sides met in the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup final, Real Madrid cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Pachuca had their moments, but lacked the composure and quality in front of goal to capitalise. Real dominated with 66% possession and controlled the tempo throughout, never really looking troubled.
If Sunday's encounter follows a similar pattern, Madrid should have more than enough to cover the -1 handicap and win by at least two clear goals.
➡️ Back Real Madrid to win on the European handicap from -1 goals at 7/10 with Betfred
Gonzalo Garcia to score anytime
No Mbappé? No problem. Real Madrid's conveyor belt of young talent shows no signs of slowing, and when their superstar Frenchman was ruled out of the opener against Al-Hilal, it was 21-year-old Gonzalo García who stepped up to fill the void.
Many youngsters might have been overawed by the occasion, but not García. The young forward looked completely at ease on the big stage and capped his full debut with a well-taken goal to give Madrid a first-half lead.
Including his cameo appearances in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, García now has two goals and one assist from just 151 minutes of first-team football - an impressive return for any striker.
Tournaments like this often serve as the perfect platform for emerging talent. Perhaps it's Real Madrid who are about to unveil the next superstar.
Real Madrid to score over 2.5 goals
Real Madrid ran out 3–0 winners when these two sides met in the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup final back in December. On that occasion, their formidable front three - Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo and Vinícius Jr. - all got on the scoresheet in a dominant display.
However, Mbappé is a major doubt for this clash after being admitted to hospital on Thursday for tests related to gastroenteritis. Unless the France captain makes a remarkable recovery, he's unlikely to feature for Xabi Alonso's side against the Mexicans.
That said, as we saw at times under Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid's attack can often look more balanced when one of the usual front three is absent. While Mbappé's absence is undoubtedly a blow, Real still have the firepower to score three or more once again.
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About the author
Craig Mahood
Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun.
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