Xabi Alonso secured his first win as Real Madrid manager as the Spanish giants defeated Pachuca 3-1 in their second group game of the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup 2025. After a disappointing draw in their opening match against Al-Hilal, Madrid bounced back strongly and now sit at the top of Group H with four points from two matches.
However, despite the win, Alonso appeared visibly upset in the post-match interview after defender Antonio Rudiger reported that he was racially abused during the match. As quoted in the club’s official website, Alonso said: “We support Toni and we’ll see what happens. The FIFA protocol has been activated and we support him. It’s unacceptable and we believe what he said. They’re investigating it now.”
It remains unclear whether the abuse came from an opposition player or the crowd. The incident occurred late in the game, about five minutes into stoppage time, after a foul on Rudiger. Referee Ramon Abatti was seen crossing his forearms in front of his chest — the official signal for activating FIFA’s anti-racism protocol.
“The sending off was avoidable” – Alonso on Asencio’s red card
Real Madrid had to fight hard for the win after being reduced to 10 men early in the match. Young defender Raul Asencio received a straight red card in the 7th minute following a reckless challenge.
Reflecting on the incident, Alonso said: “The sending off was avoidable.” Despite the numerical disadvantage, Madrid showed resilience. Goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Federico Valverde secured a much-needed win.
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