Real Madrid's Starting XI: A Surprise Inclusion

Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI for the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday against Pachuca had an unexpected surprise. After Ancelotti admitted that his number 9 wasn't at his "best level" following a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club a fortnight ago, the Frenchman responded with fantastic goals in wins against Girona (3-0) domestically and Atalanta in the Champions League (3-2). Mbappe scored the opening goal inside 10 minutes during the latter triumph in Bergamo, but then asked to be brought off 25 minutes later. Madrid confirmed an injury to the Ballon d'Or hopeful later on, and while Mbappe missed the 3-3 thriller at Rayo Vallecano Saturday night, he was always expected to at least make the trip to Qatar for the reintroduced Intercontinental Cup final. What wasn't in the script is that Mbappe goes straight into the starting XI on the front line, with The Best winner Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo to his left and right. This is the approach that Ancelotti will take, however, with Eduardo Camavinga a lone pivot behind more advanced midfielders Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde. With Ferland Mendy nursing a knock, Fran Garcia is the left back and Lucas Vazquez is on the other defensive flank. Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Rudiger are the center back pairing, meaning that once again there is no starting space for breakout star Raul Asencio to help protect Thibaut Courtois' goal. At a prematch press conference where he had to field a question about whether he's lost control of his players, Ancelotti insisted that his men come into the Intercontinental Cup final "more animated" than before and "better than a month ago". "It's a unique match, a unique final. We're very excited," he stated about the fixture against Mexican opposition, which is a precursor of sorts to the redesigned Club World Cup that will take place in the United States this summer.

Real Madrid Starting XI Vs. Pachuca: Courtois; Fran, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Vazquez; Camavinga, Valverde, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo

Mbappe's Road to Recovery and Return

Kylian Mbappe was just starting to hit form following struggles since completing a high-profile free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. Mbappe was initially a doubt for Wednesday’s showpiece fixture against Mexican opposition in Qatar after suffering a thigh injury during the Champions League win over Atalanta last week, causing him to miss Saturday’s 3-3 LaLiga draw away at Rayo Vallecano as a result. However, Mbappe was named in the 24-man travelling party for the final after taking part in the team's training session on Monday and head coach Carlo Ancelotti was optimistic about the forward’s chances of featuring at the Lusail Stadium. “His situation is simple. Mbappe trained yesterday and felt good, it's all gone well,” the Italian told reporters. “We have an important training session tonight and he'll have to assess how he feels again. “If there is no risk, I'll speak to him and his doctors and he'll play. Of course, if there is even the slightest risk, he won't. “Today's training session is hugely important. He felt great yesterday, so we're optimistic."

Vinicius Jr.'s Triumph and Return to Action

Vinicius Jr, fresh off being named FIFA The Best Men's Player 2024 on Tuesday, also starts after playing the final half an hour at the weekend as he is eased back into action following a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury that caused him to sit out the 2-0 Champions League defeat against Liverpool last month. There was a decision to make in central midfield too as Eduardo Camavinga, who made his return to action at the weekend, replaces captain Luka Modric to partner Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham in the engine room. Defensively, Real Madrid’s crisis is well documented. Vice-captain Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are both out for the season with knee injuries, while Ferland Mendy and David Alaba have been left at home. That means Lucas Vazquez continues at right-back with Aurelien Tchouameni operating as a makeshift central defender alongside Antonio Rudiger. Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler both drop to the bench.

Pachuca's Path to the Final

Real Madrid and Pachuca meet in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday in Qatar, a tournament in its first year as the rebranded version of what was previously the FIFA Club World Cup. 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. Pachuca endured a poor finish to the Liga MX campaign with just one win in their last eight games which meant a 16th placed finish out of 18 clubs. This will be the Mexican outfit's first-ever meeting with Real but the two will meet again after being drawn in Group H of the Club World Cup alongside Al-Hilal and Red Bull Salzburg next summer. Real are here as Champions League winners thanks to their victory over Borussia Dortmund last season while Pachuca's route has taken longer. The Mexicans have already seen off continental champions for the right to take on Los Blancos in Qatar with Botafogo and Al Ahly eliminated en route to this showdown.

Match Details and Where to Watch

Time and date: 5pm GMT on Wednesday December 18, 2024 Venue: Lusail Stadium, Qatar TV channel: beIN Sports, DAZN and FIFA+ 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. 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. The match will be a fascinating encounter between two teams with contrasting styles and aspirations. Real Madrid’s star-studded lineup will look to dominate possession and create numerous scoring opportunities. Pachuca, however, will rely on their ability to counter-attack quickly and capitalize on any defensive mistakes by Real Madrid. The match promises to be an exciting display of skill and tactical nous, with the victor claiming the prestigious Intercontinental Cup title. The outcome remains uncertain, making it a must-watch event for football enthusiasts worldwide. The final will surely be a captivating showdown that keeps fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. We can only wait and see what the result will be.