Real Madrid endured a sluggish opening in Charlotte, North Carolina—hampered by Raúl Asencio’s early red card—but Xabi Alonso’s side regrouped swiftly to secure their first victory of the tournament, winning 3–1.
Two cohesive moves in the first half finished by Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler put Madrid firmly in control. Federico Valverde added a third after the interval, and although a deflected strike later narrowed the margin, the result had long been settled.
Here is a full list of the Top 10 performers of the game, across 10 different metrics:
Dean Huijsen led all players with 97 touches and operated with surgeon-level efficiency: 92.6 % pass completion while attempting a match-high 14 progressive passes (second-most overall). His distribution added 0.954 expected-threat—the second-largest individual xT gain of the night—and he balanced that incision with five ball recoveries inside his own half. Even when pressed, Huijsen showed confidence in possession, completing two clean take-ons.
Vinícius Júnior was not on the scoresheet but his 37 touches in the final third topped the chart, fuelled by a joint-best 11 progressive carries and a perfect 3-for-3 long-ball accuracy. The winger beat his man a match-high three times and still retained the ball well, finishing with 91.3 % overall passing.
Jude Bellingham knitted phases together with trademark timing. Apart from his goal, he contributed two key passes, matched Huijsen’s progressive-pass output with six of his own, and drove forward on four progressive carries. When asked to switch play he was equally tidy, completing two-thirds of his long balls at 66.7 percent.
Federico Valverde scored Madrid’s third and provided balance: 92.5 percent pass completion, 66 total touches, 14 touches in the attacking third, two take-ons, and four ball recoveries underscored his two-way influence.
Gonzalo García maximized his 45 minutes on the pitch, completing two take-ons—second-best on the pitch—and drawing defenders wide to open inside lanes. He also provided the assist for Arda Güler’s goal. Although he didn’t feature near the top of the progressive charts or xT gain table, the Castilla graduate was a great defensive presence, covering ground in his own half.