After beating Al Ahly 4-1 in Morocco on Wednesday, Real Madrid will play Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the final of the Club World Cup. In Rabat’s sold-out Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Vincius Jr scored with a spectacular chip shortly before half-time, and Federico Valverde doubled the lead early in the second half.
Ali Maâloul’s goal after a foul by Eduardo Camavinga delivered Al Ahly. This Asian champion defeated Auckland City and the Seattle Sounders in the early rounds of the Club World Cup, a chance to respond. However, RealMadrid drove away in the dying minutes of the game, 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 victory after the Egyptian team failed to work a free kick into the penalty area.
💜 HALA MADRID 💜#ClubWC pic.twitter.com/u7nYJHP95a
— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) February 8, 2023
Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Real Madrid, told reporters, “We did well today because it was a game where we had everything to lose and nothing to gain,” he said. “We controlled the game pretty well. It is a great feeling to reach the final.”
Although they played abroad, Los Blancos received a lot of support from Moroccans, who loudly applauded each goal as they numbered in their hundreds. Even though the European champions were without defender Éder Milito, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and striker Karim Benzema, they eventually had enough star power to overcome Al Ahly’s stubborn defence.
The six champions of the top club championship on each continent, along with another team from the host country, participate in the Club World Cup, which has been organized annually since 2005. Real Madrid have won the league four times, with the most recent win coming in 2018.
Al Hilal, which was the first Saudi team to advance to the final after beating South American champion Flamengo 3-2 in the other semi-final, will try to become the first Asian champion of the Club World Cup on Saturday.
“Football is changing because there are many teams around the world that can also compete, fight and win,” said Ancelotti.
“I was surprised that Flamengo was eliminated, but they are in pre-season and their fitness is not at its peak and the rest of the teams, which are in the middle of the season, are at their peak.”
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, announced after last year that from 2025 the Club World Cup will become a 32-team event held every four years.
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