After defeating Al Ahly 4-1 in Morocco on Wednesday, Real Madrid will play Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the Club World Cup final. At Rabat’s sold-out Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Vincius Jr scored with a spectacular chip shortly before halftime, and Federico Valverde doubled the advantage early in the second half.
Ali Maâloul’s penalty-kick goal after Eduardo Camavinga’s foul gave Al Ahly. This Asian champion defeated Auckland City and the Seattle Sounders in the Club World Cup’s early rounds, a chance to respond. However, Real Madrid pulled away in the match’s closing minutes, even after Luka Modric missed a penalty.
After a deft pass exchange between Rodrygo and Dani Ceballos in the Al Ahly box, Rodrygo made it 3-1. Sergio Arribas sealed the triumph after the Egyptian team failed to clear a free-kick into the area.
💜 HALA MADRID 💜#ClubWC pic.twitter.com/u7nYJHP95a
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 8, 2023
Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Real Madrid, told reporters, “We did well today because it was a match where we had everything to lose and nothing to win,”. “We controlled the game pretty well. It’s a great feeling to reach the final.”
Even though they were playing abroad, Los Blancos had a lot of support from Moroccans, who loudly clapped for each goal while in the hundreds. Even though the European champion was without defender Éder Milito, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, and striker Karim Benzema, they ultimately had enough star power to overcome Al Ahly’s stubborn defence.
The six champions of the top club championship on each continent, together with one more team from the host nation, compete in the Club World Cup, which has been hosted yearly since 2005. Real Madrid has won the competition four times, with the most recent victory coming in 2018.
Al Hilal, which advanced to the final as the first Saudi team after defeating South American champion Flamengo 3-2 in the other semifinal, will attempt to become the first Asian champion of the Club World Cup on Saturday.
“Football’s changing because there are a lot of teams all over the world that can compete, fight and win, too,” said Ancelotti.
“I was surprised that Flamengo were eliminated, but they’re in preseason and their fitness level isn’t at its peak and the rest of the teams, who are in the middle of the season, are at their peak.”
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, announced after the previous year that the Club World Cup would become a 32-team event held every four years starting in 2025.
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