Real Madrid will square up against Mexican outfit Pachuca in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday night.
The Lusail Stadium in Qatar is all set to play host to this FIFA Intercontinental Cup final between Real Madrid and CF Pachuca. While Carlo Ancelotti’s team have been a touch inconsistent this season, they will be looking to add another honour to their trophy cabinet on Wednesday.
Real Madrid secured a spot in the final on the back of their triumph in the UEFA Champions League last season. They got the better of Borussia Dortmund in the final and are now gearing up to face Pachuca.
The home team have not been at their best this season, but they are still in the mix for all major trophies. Los Blancos are heading into this fixture on the back of a disappointing 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano, and they will be hoping to return to winning ways in this fixture in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, CF Pachuca have fought their way to this final. They have taken down continental champions to earn their right to square up against Real Madrid. The Mexican club thrashed the winners of the Copa Libertadores, Botafogo 3-0 and then got the better of African champions Al Ahly in a penalty shootout to make their way to this all-important final.
While CF Pachuca are in form and will be hoping to put up a fight against the Spanish giants, it could end up being a very difficult outing for them. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
Real Madrid will remain without the services of David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe has been named in the squad for this trip to Qatar. But it will be interesting to see if he plays a part having missed the game against Rayo following a knock.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will be in goal. Lucas Vazquez and Fran Garcia will be the full-backs, with Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger in the heart of the defence.
Eduardo Camavinga will be the defensive midfielder, and he will have the support of Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham. The duo will look to ensure that Real Madrid dominate the ball and control the tempo.
Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes will be on the flanks and if Mbappe is fully fit, he will be the one leading the line. But, if the Frenchman is not available, Brahim Diaz could slot into the right-hand side, with Rodrygo taking up the number nine role.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Garcia; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
CF Pachuca
The Mexican outfit will be without the services of Israel Luna. Meanwhile, Andres Micolta who recently returned from injury has been doing wonders for them and should continue to feature in the starting XI.
Pachuca will stick to the 4-5-1 formation against Real Madrid, with Carlos Moreno in goal. Luis Rodriguez and Bryan Gonzalez will be the full-backs, while Gustavo Cabral and Andres Micolta will take charge in the heart of the defence.
Elias Enrique Montiel Avalos and Oussama Idrissi well feature out wide on the flanks in midfield. They will look to contribute on both ends of the pitch. In the centre of the park, Nelson Deossa will return to the XI after starting on the bench in their last outing. He will partner Pedro Pedraza and Alan Ernesto Bautista Gutierrez. Former Premier League star Salomon Rondon will lead the line.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Moreno; Rodriguez, Cabral, Micolta, Gonzalez; Montiel, Pedraza, Deossa, Bautista, Idrissi; Rondon
Key Stats
- This is all set to be the first meeting between Real Madrid and Pachuca.
- Los Blancos have faced a Mexican outfit just three times so far with all those fixtures coming in the FIFA Club World Cup. The team in white have won two of those fixtures while they have suffered a defeat once.
- Pachuca are all set to square up against a Spanish team for the first time in a competitive match.
- Real Madrid last faced a Lige MX side back in 2016 in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup (2-0 win over Club America).
- Carlo Ancelotti’s team have scored at least three goals in their last four games in FIFA competitions.
Player to Watch
Vinicius Junior
When it comes to big finals, Vinicius Junior is someone who tends to step up and deliver. He already has 13 goals and nine assists in his 20 outings this season. It won’t be a surprise if the Brazilian international adds to it and ends up being the difference between the two teams in this final.
Prediction
Real Madrid 4-1 CF Pachuca
Los Blancos might have been inconsistent in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, but they have a star-studded squad that should not have much difficulty taking down the Mexican outfit. While the visitors have fought hard to reach the final, this game is going to be a massive challenge for them. The Hard Tackle predicts a 4-1 win for the Spanish giants.
