And suddenly, Real Madrid is the bogeyman: City, Juventus and the game that no one would want to play

He's only played 180 minutes, but Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid is already beginning to show its first virtues , with some guidelines on the table. A more recognizable team is starting to look, but one where various positions are still being adjusted to try to find the place where each player performs best. Of course, the performance against Pachuca said much more than it might seem: how to take a fundamental victory with one less player from the 7th minute .

The best news for Madrid wasn't the victory, the subsequent draw between Al-Hilal and Salzburg, or the strong performance of some of its players, but rather the fact that it was once again seeing a competitive team, capable of fighting and with organized ideas . If a less intense, lackluster, and lethargic team had taken to the Bank of America pitch this Sunday, they could have been surprised by an early exit from the Club World Cup.

However, when the team was going through its worst moment after Raúl Asencio's expulsion , Real Madrid's pride emerged to carry them through the match. Despite playing for nearly an hour and a half with one less player, it was barely noticeable at any point . The tightness of the players on the pitch and Real Madrid's intensity did the rest to demonstrate pride and secure an important victory. And, in doing so, send a message to the rest.

Now, Madrid leads its group, and either a win or a draw will put it through to the next round. However, if it only earns one point and Al-Hilal wins, it would finish second. But what would the consequences be? Really, the advantage for Madrid is that, by the time it plays its match, it will know who its opponent will be in the round of 16. In fact, it already knows it will face Manchester City or Juventus , but not the exact matchup.

Both Pep Guardiola 's and Igor Tudor 's teams have delivered. And with flying colors. Both have won their previous two matches, each by a landslide, which puts them directly into the round of 16 with six points. But the match between them remains to be seen, which will determine who is first and who is second in Group G. Or, to put it another way, one of them will be Real Madrid's opponent... but they will play without knowing the Real Madrid's exact position. It's the game no one wants to play .

There's an unwritten maxim that says it's best to do your job without looking at others, that is, win your game without caring who your opponent is . And both City and Juve will face each other in a high-level match that will determine who tops their group and, in fact, the Real Madrid's opponent. But, with a good handful of matches still to play, everything points to the fact that the second-place finisher in Group G and the first-place finisher in Group H would have an easier path in the knockout stages. Barring the round of 16.

Real Madrid, who after the first match seemed to be carrying many of their ills from last season, improved their image in the second match . They dominated the field, controlled the ball, and found the back of the net three times, despite playing with one man less for most of the match. A lesson in maturity and play worthy of a great team , precisely what they were criticized for in the first match... although everything would have changed if Valverde had converted his penalty.

That team that seemed far from its best is the same one that neither Juventus nor City want to face in the round of 16. Madrid, by winning—or drawing, if Al-Hilal doesn't take all three points—will top the group. And, four hours earlier, the Italians and English teams face off to seal their group and find out who will face Real Madrid. It's the game no one wants to play. The biggest bogeyman of world football will cross their path, the opponent no one sees as the title draws near.