Who are CF Pachuca, Real Madrid’s Mexican rivals in the Intercontinental Cup final?
‘Los Tuzos’ are the first ever Mexican club to reach a major FIFA final with Rondón and Idrissi the players to watch.
With six CONCACAF Champions League and seven Liga MX titles in their trophy cabinet, Pachuca, the self-proclaimed ‘team of Mexico’ are looking to write another chapter in Mexican football on Wednesday.
(The Gophers) Los Tuzos are the first Mexican team to play in a major FIFA club competition and face Champions League holders Real Madrid in Doha.
Nobody saw the Liga MX outfit beating Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo with such ease at the quarter-final stage as Guillermo Almada’s side needed a penalty shoot-out to beat African champions Al Ahly in the semifinals last Saturday to secure a berth in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup final.
Pachuca were far from favourites on their road to a place at the Intercontinental Cup. The side from Hidalgo had to overcome Club América at the semifinals stage of the CONCACAF Champions League before beating highly tipped Columbus Crew 3-0 in the final with the ‘Tuzos’ thriving upon being labelled the ‘underdog’.
History, youth development and big names
Pachuca are well known in Mexican football for their focus on developing young talent with a highly acclaimed youth academy system. Elías Montiel, a talented 19-year-old attacking midfielder is a perfect example of the quality of footballers the club produces with the player set to start on Wednesday at Lusail stadium.
The policy of the club is to compliment young and homegrown talent with high profile international players. Both Oussama Idrissi and Salomón Rondón have been instrumental in their progression in Qatar with both players having plenty of European football experience.
The side is led by coach Guillermo Almada and the Uruguayan has been pivotal in improving his side at this competition despite a poor showing in the recent domestic Liga MX Apertura season. The 58-year-coach has confirmed that he will stand down from the club upon the conclusion of the 2025 Club World Cup.
Real Madrid go into Wednesday’s game as solid favourites to add the Intercontinental Cup to their UEFA Super Cup win this season but Pachuca revel in the underdog role and will be no pushover for ‘Los Blancos’.
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