He Real Madrid has been proclaimed world champion for the eighth time in its history —three Intercontinental Cups and five Club World Cups— after defeating Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia (5-3) in the final played this Saturday in Rabat. A match in which Vinícius Junior —the Brazilian thrives in the finals— and Fede Valverde they scored twice, while Benzema, who has started, also scored. The goals for the Asian team were signed by Winter y Luciano Vietto (2).
A duel in which Madrid seemed to put land in the middle, showing off their offensive power, although they relaxed at times and showed their weaknesses behind. In any case, Al Hilal is a weak team and, except for Vietto and Marega, they didn’t worry enough to Andrei Lunin. The Malian international had an unbeatable chance in the final stretch to have made it 5-4 and put his team back into the game, but he missed a goal sung with everything in his favour. The set of Charles Ancelotti he was in control at all times and has ended up taking the title in this Club World Cup, which has ended up being a perfect balm for the whites after a few weeks with more shadows than lights after the return of the World Cup in Qatar (defeats in the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona and Mallorca, I stumble against Real Sociedad at home…).
Ancelotti recovered the captain for the cause Benzema, who could not play Wednesday’s semifinal against Egyptian Al Ahly (1-4). Also Militao, although the Brazilian central defender stayed on the bench and did not play for a single minute. Dani Carvajal also returned to eleven, relegating Nacho to substitution. As for the rest of the eleven, with hardly any news: Fede Valverde played on the right and Rodrygo He was a substitute this time. The Uruguayan and Vinícius took the lead in Madrid’s offense to end up scoring both in pairs. Great game especially from the Brazilian, declared the best player of the tournament, because in addition to his double he also starred in a memorable assist for Benzema abroad. Vini’s great game, more comfortable when he plays a competition other than LaLiga or the Copa del Rey, where he has become the ‘pim, pam, pum’ of rival fans.
vinicius He was in charge of opening the scoring very early, at 13 minutes. He connected with Benzema and finished against Almayouf without complications. Al Hilal showed courage against the European champion – now also the world champion – but lacked quality. The Saudis forgave the equalizer after an overconfidence from Carvajal, when Vietto caressed the post with his shot. And from what could have been 1-1 it became 2-0, barely five minutes later, when Fede Valverdewho seems to have recovered his best physical tone, teamed up with Carvajal to put land in the middle.
Madrid’s first twenty minutes were magnificent, but the team relaxed and before half an hour came the goal for Winter, who left a poorly placed Rüdiger portrayed, to end up beating a Lunin who could also do something else. The Malian, capable of the best but also the worst, was a nightmare at times because on more than one occasion he defeated both the German central defender and Alaba.
Madrid accused the rival goal and Al Hilal came up, taking possession of the ball and putting the white defense in trouble. Even so, the clearest chance before the break came from Benzema, finishing off a great service from Valverde to the far post, although the Frenchman’s shot missed the target. Those of Ancelotti were being better, but they needed more forcefulness up top. There were homework to do around the locker room.
Vinícius does not forgive
More of the same at the beginning of the second part. White’s superiority continued after the break and Madrid would once again put land in the middle with two more goals in less than five minutes. The 3-1 was wonderful: a artwork by Viniciuswho attended abroad to Benzema. The Frenchman, in front of goal and with Almayouf already defeated, only had to push it to achieve the third. Valverdelike Vini, also achieved his double: the Uruguayan defined perfectly after a great play with Carvajal.
Everything seemed to sew and sing for Ancelotti and his team —the Italian rested Benzema and Tchouaméni, putting Rodrygo and Dani Ceballos on the field—, but the goal came Luciano Vietto, the former from Seville, Villarreal, Valencia and Atlético de Madrid, to add some spice to the game. Until vinicius decided that the Club World Cup was going to be for Real Madrid: the Brazilian signed a good partnership with Ceballos. The man from Utrera was unable to finish off inside the area and the ball fell free to Vini, who surprised everyone with a spectacular shot with a twist to place the ball next to the post.
5-2 and a half title in the pocket. Ancelotti also rested Kroos, Modric and Carvajal -Asensio, Nacho and Vallejo entered-, and in the final stretch he would appear again Observance to sign his particular double, turning inside the area to leave Lunin and his defense portrayed. A lot of quality from the Argentine. Marega, just a few seconds later, could have made it 5-4, but he missed a goal sung with everything in his favor and wasted a golden opportunity for Al Hilal to get back into the game. Madrid backed down, came to have the ball and controlled the clash in the last minutes to tie up their eighth world champion title. A tournament that, seeing the level of most of the participating teams, may seem like a minor title, but to get here first you have to win the Champions League. Those are big words…
Datasheet
Real Madrid, 5: Monday; Carvajal (Vallejo, m.79), Rüdiger, Praise, Camavinga; Tchouameni (Ceballos, 62), Kroos (Marco Asensio, 74), Modric (Nacho, 74); Fede Valverde, Vinicius and Benzema (Rodrygo, m.62)
Al Hilal, 3: Almayouf; Saud, Jang, Al Bulayhi, Khalifah; Cuellar, Carrillo (Michael, m.74), Mohamed Kanno; Salem (Nasser, m.74), Marega (Ighalo, m.86) and Vietto (Al Hamdan, m.86)
Goals: 1-0, m.13: Vinícius; 2-0, m.18: Valverde; 2-1, m.26: Marega; 3-1, m.54: Benzema; 4-1, m.58: Valverde; 4-2, m.64: Vietto; 5-2, m.69: Vinicius; 5-3, m.79: Vietto
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England). No reprimands
Incidences: Final of the Club World Cup played at the Príncipe Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat (Morocco) in front of some 51,000 spectators