Real Madrid crushed Pachuca 3-1 in their first win of the 2025 Club World Cup, but fans were less than happy with one individual.
Xabi Alonso’s squad won three points thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Federico Valverde. They now lead Group H.
Los Blancos rebounded from their disappointing 1-1 draw with Al Hilal on Thursday, in which Valverde missed a penalty in second-half stoppage time.
All three goals against Pachuca were the result of outstanding teamwork, and Real won despite playing with only 10 players for the entirety of the game.
Salomon Rondon, a former Everton, Newcastle, and West Brom striker, was passed through on goal after seven minutes but was hauled down by Raul Asencio.
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The youthful centre-back received a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity while making no move to win the ball.
Asencio has started both Club World Cup matches in centre defence with new recruit Dean Huijsen, with Antonio Rudiger still working his way back to full fitness.
He handed up a penalty against Al Hilal for a foul similar to the one against Pachuca, in which the Spaniard pulled down Marcos Leonardo in the area.
Real fans are dissatisfied with the centre-back.
One person commented: “People can stop pretending Asencio is anything more than a fourth choice CB at best.”
A different person commented: “Asencio doesn’t seem to have the intelligence and composure to be a long-term starter option for Real Madrid.”
A third said, “Asencio’s time in the Xabi Alonso era is over.”
While a fourth said, “Asencio really needs to calm down, you can’t keep committing like that.”
Due to the player deficit, Real custodian Thibaut Courtois had to make a total of ten saves, earning him the Player of the Match honour.
Real Madrid concludes their group stage campaign against RB Salzburg, knowing that a point will be enough to advance to the Club World Cup’s round of 16.
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