Good afternoon everybody and welcome to another MARCA in English live blog, this time taking you through the Intercontinental Cup final clash between Real Madrid and Pachuca from the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid enters the match as firm favorites, aiming to secure their ninth Intercontinental title. Fresh off their Champions League triumph in June. The team last claimed this prestigious honor in 2023 and is eager to extend their legacy.
Pachuca's route to the final has been marked by resilience and determination. Earning their sixth CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year, they carried that momentum into Qatar, where they first overcame Botafogo with a commanding 3-0 victory.
Goals from Oussama Idrissi, Nelson Deossa, and Salomon Rondon highlighted their attacking flair. Their semifinal against Al Ahly was a much closer affair, ending in a penalty shootout triumph, with goalkeeper Carlos Moreno saving the decisive kick.
This final marks the first-ever clash between Real Madrid and Pachuca, setting the stage for an intriguing battle of styles. Madrid's tactical discipline and Pachuca's counter-attacking prowess will test each side's adaptability.
Real Madrid vs Pachuca LIVE - Latest Updates
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 3, Pachuca 0.
Salomón Rondón (Pachuca) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Salomón Rondón (Pachuca).
Offside, Pachuca. Ángel Mena is caught offside.
Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Attempt saved. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Brahim Díaz with a through ball.
Substitution, Pachuca. Sergio Hernández replaces Nelson Deossa.
Substitution, Pachuca. Alexéi Domínguez replaces Oussama Idrissi.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Arda Güler replaces Jude Bellingham.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Raúl replaces Lucas Vázquez.
Attempt missed. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box.
Goal! Real Madrid 3, Pachuca 0. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) converts the penalty with a right footed shot.
VAR Decision: Penalty Real Madrid.
Penalty Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca) after a foul in the penalty area.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Carlos Sánchez.
Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ángel Mena (Pachuca).
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid).
Nelson Deossa (Pachuca) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Federico Valverde.
Foul by Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).
Carlos Sánchez (Pachuca) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Pachuca. Carlos Sánchez replaces Luis Rodríguez.
Substitution, Pachuca. Ángel Mena replaces Alán Bautista.
Foul by Luka Modric (Real Madrid).
Alán Bautista (Pachuca) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Carlos Moreno.
Attempt saved. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Sergio Barreto (Pachuca).
Attempt missed. Salomón Rondón (Pachuca) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Elías Montiel with a cross.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Luka Modric replaces Rodrygo.
Attempt missed. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Attempt saved. Salomón Rondón (Pachuca) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Foul by Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid).
Bryan González (Pachuca) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Elías Montiel (Pachuca) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nelson Deossa.
Foul by Fran García (Real Madrid).
Alán Bautista (Pachuca) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt blocked. Luis Rodríguez (Pachuca) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos replaces Eduardo Camavinga.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Brahim Díaz replaces Kylian Mbappé.
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid).
Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Pachuca. Conceded by Fran García.
Attempt blocked. Nelson Deossa (Pachuca) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Elías Montiel.
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alán Bautista (Pachuca).
VAR Checking: Real Madrid Goal (Rodrygo).
Goal! Real Madrid 2, Pachuca 0. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Corner, Pachuca. Conceded by Fran García.
Attempt blocked. Nelson Deossa (Pachuca) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Foul by Rodrygo (Real Madrid).
Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Pedro Pedraza (Pachuca) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Pedro Pedraza (Pachuca).
Foul by Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Salomón Rondón (Pachuca).
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Elías Montiel (Pachuca).
Second Half begins Real Madrid 1, Pachuca 0.
First Half ends, Real Madrid 1, Pachuca 0.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Luis Rodríguez (Pachuca).
Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Foul by Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid).
Luis Rodríguez (Pachuca) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Luis Rodríguez (Pachuca).
Attempt missed. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Rodrygo with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Pedro Pedraza.
Attempt missed. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Attempt missed. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jude Bellingham.
Goal! Real Madrid 1, Pachuca 0. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) left footed shot from very close range.
Foul by Bryan González (Pachuca).
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Nelson Deossa (Pachuca).
Delay in match because of an injury Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid).
Offside, Real Madrid. Rodrygo is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Salomón Rondón (Pachuca) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nelson Deossa.
Attempt blocked. Nelson Deossa (Pachuca) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Alán Bautista (Pachuca) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Oussama Idrissi following a corner.
Corner, Pachuca. Conceded by Eduardo Camavinga.
Foul by Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid).
Salomón Rondón (Pachuca) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Andrés Micolta.
Attempt blocked. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kylian Mbappé.
Foul by Pedro Pedraza (Pachuca).
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid).
Nelson Deossa (Pachuca) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luis Rodríguez.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Bryan González.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Luis Rodríguez.
Corner, Pachuca. Conceded by Eduardo Camavinga.
Corner, Pachuca. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Attempt saved. Luis Rodríguez (Pachuca) right footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the bottom right corner.
Hand ball by Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid).
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Luis Rodríguez (Pachuca).
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Bryan González (Pachuca) wins a free kick on the left wing.
First Half begins.
Pachuca lineup for tonight's match
Pachuca (4-2-3-1): Moreno; Luis Rodríguez, Barreto, Micolta, Bryan González; Montiel, Peraza; Idrissi, Bautista, Deossa, Rondón.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
How Real Madrid will lineup tonight
Mbappe starts as the attacking trident is back. Tchouaméni remains in the center of the defense.
Real Madrid vs Pachuca Possible Lineups
Real Madrid's squad is bolstered by the return of Kylian Mbappe, who missed their recent 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano due to a thigh injury. Alongside Vinicius Junior, the duo forms a lethal attacking partnership that could prove too much for Pachuca to handle. Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Federico Valverde add depth to an already star-studded lineup.
However, Madrid's defensive options remain limited. With season-ending injuries to Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, and Ferland Mendy, Carlo Ancelotti has had to rely on Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger as makeshift center-backs. David Alaba's recent return to training provides a glimmer of hope, but he has not been included in the squad for this trip.
Real Madrid possible starting XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Garcia; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
Pachuca possible starting XI: Moreno; Rodriguez, Cabral, Micolta, Gonzalez; Montiel, Pedraza, Deossa, Bautista, Idrissi; Rondon
Where to watch Real Madrid vs Pachuca?
For fans in the United Kingdom, Real Madrid vs Pachuca can be seen on DAZN UK.
US-based fans will be able to see Real Madrid vs Pachuca on beIN SPORTS.
What time does Real Madrid vs Pachuca start?
Real Madrid vs Pachuca is a 18:00 CET kick-off in Spain. That means fans in the UK and Ireland will find the game starting at 17:00 GMT.
Fans in the USA can tune in to watch Real Madrid vs Pachuca at 12:00 ET / 9:00 PT.
Match ends, Real Madrid 3, Pachuca 0.