Xabi Alonso hailed the performance of Thibaut Courtois after the Belgian goalkeeper made 10 saves to help 10-man Real Madrid secure a 3–1 win over Pachuca at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Los Blancos were reduced to ten men as early as the seventh minute when Raul Asensio was sent off, forcing Alonso's side to dig deep defensively for much of the contest. It was Courtois who stood tall, delivering another commanding display between the sticks.

"We’re very lucky to have Thibaut in goal," Alonso told DAZN. "Once again, he showed how reliable he is. Playing almost the entire match a man down was a real test, but we defended with tremendous effort — just as we needed to."

The turning point came during the now-familiar hydration break, a recurring feature of this Club World Cup. Alonso used the pause to make tactical adjustments, and Real responded with two first-half goals despite their numerical disadvantage.

"Playing with ten changed everything — how we defended and how we attacked," the manager explained. "I laid out a new plan, and the players understood it quickly. It worked before half-time. The game was tense, but we managed it well."

With four points from two matches, Real Madrid are well-positioned heading into their final group-stage clash against Austria's Red Bull Salzburg.