Real Madrid overcame an early red card to defeat Pachuca 3-1 at the FIFA Club World Cup, grinding out their first win of the tournament despite playing nearly the entire match with 10 men.

The game took a dramatic turn inside 10 minutes when defender Raul Asencio was sent off for hauling down Salomon Rondon as the last man.

Pachuca, winless in three previous CWC meetings with European sides, looked poised to capitalise and forced a brilliant double save from Thibaut Courtois shortly after.

But Real Madrid struck first against the run of play. Jude Bellingham latched onto a Fran Garcia pass and coolly slotted home with his left foot to give the 10-man side a shock lead.

Moments before the break, Arda Guler doubled the advantage with a composed finish after a flowing move involving Trent Alexander-Arnold and Gonzalo Garcia.

Pachuca pushed after the interval and nearly pulled one back when Rondon flicked Federico Pereira’s header just wide.

But the momentum shifted again when Real hit back on the counter. Brahim Diaz’s whipped ball into the box was turned in by Federico Valverde, ending the contest with 20 minutes to go.

Elias Montiel pulled one back for Pachuca via a deflected effort off Aurelien Tchouameni, but it was little more than consolation.

The Mexican side’s exit from the competition is now confirmed.

Madrid, under new boss Xabi Alonso, have work to do to top the group, but their fighting spirit and clinical finishing under pressure keep their CWC ambitions alive.