Spanish giants Real Madrid bagged their first win at the FIFA Club World Cup after seeing off CF Pachuca 3-1 on Sunday evening.
Los Blancos coach Xabi Alonso made a solitary change from the group opener against Al Hilal, with Turkish midfielder Arda Guler ahead of Rodrygo.
The European giants started slow and almost trailed in the fifth minute through a first-time volley by former West Bromwich Albion striker Solomon Rondon, but it went wide.
Rondon caused more problems three minutes later as Madrid were reduced to ten men after the striker was brought down on the edge of the area by Raul Asencio, who was the last man.
Los Blancos remained under the weather and needed a double save from Thibaut Courtois to parry a succession of attempts by Kenedy and Bautista
Madrid came good after an underwhelming start ten minutes to the interval as Jude Bellingham made a late run into the area and drilled in the bottom-corner.
The Spanish giants bagged a second goal a minute to the break when Guler stepped in the area to pick up a first-time pass from Gonzalo Garcia and finished comfortably.
Madrid manager Xabi Alonso made a substitution ahead of the second half and introduced Brahim Diaz in the place of Garcia.
Los Blancos were on the back-foot moments in as Courtois showed a safe pair of gloves to thwart a low snap shot from the area by Rondon.
Madrid settled matters on 70 minutes when Diaz played a pin-point ball in-behind and saw Federico Valverde connect to finish from close-range.
The Mexican outfit registered a consolation goal ten minutes from time when a low shot on the edge of the area by Elias Montiel deflected off Aurelien Tchouameni and found the net.
Los Blancos advantage weren’t in danger and contained the late pressure to collect their first win of the tournament.
(Photo by Qian Jun/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images)
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