Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada is preparing for one of the biggest matches in the history of the Mexican club, which faces Real Madrid in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Tuesday.
CONCACAF Champions Cup holders Pachuca defeated Egyptian giants Al Ahly 6-5 on penalties in Saturday's play-off in Qatar after 120 goalless minutes.
They now take on Madrid in the showpiece opening tournament – which was introduced to replace the Club World Cup prior to that competition, with a 32-team format being adopted at the end of the club season.
Pachuca has already faced two rounds of the tournament, also eliminating Copa Libertadores holders Botafogo with a 3-0 win on Wednesday.
Although Almada cannot wait to test his skills against Carlo Ancelotti and 15-time European champions Madrid, he knows recovery is now the key for his side.
“Against Real Madrid it will be a very complicated match because of the football marathon we had today,” he said after Saturday's match.
“We will try to recover so that we can have a match that will be transcendent for the club.”
Reflecting on Saturday's match, in which Pachuca managed just 11 shots and 0.67 expected goals (xG) to Al Ahly's 15 shots and 1.37 xG, Almada added: “We were a bit exhausted because of the intensity we needed had in the match against Botafogo.
“Luckily we got this win with a marathon penalty shoot-out, but ultimately it's about the character we showed. That is very important to us.
“We maintained defensive security and that is to be recognized, but we did not string together passes or generate scoring opportunities.”
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