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Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde each scored twice as Real Madrid won the FIFA Club World Cup for a record-extending fifth time after a 5-3 victory over Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in Saturday's final in Rabat, Morocco.
European Champions League winners Madrid were heavy favorites against their counterparts from Asia and properly raced into a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes with two goals in five minutes from Vinicius and Valverde.
But Al Hilal, the main team from Saudi Arabia to make the final, made the game a challenge while pulling a goal back through the kindness of Moussa Marega.
Madrid raced ahead again early in the final part, this time through the fit-again Karim Benzema and a second for Uruguayan midfielder Valverde, to appear to seal the outcome with a little more than 30 minutes remaining.
Yet again, Madrid supervisor Carlo Ancelotti is probably not going to be too intrigued by allowing Al Hilal a route back into the game through a brace from former Atletico Madrid forward Luciano Vietto, either side of a second from Vinicius.
Al Hilal could have ensured real late drama if not for a bad miss from Marega, but Madrid had enough to see out an ultimately deserved win in a game that set the record for the most combined goals in a Club World Cup final.
The Spanish giants have now won all five finals they have faced, having recently brought home three championships in four years between 2014 and 2018. The Spanish giants have now won all five finals they have faced, having recently brought home three championships in four years between 2014 and 2018. The most successful team in the FIFA tournament, which began in 2000 and has been held annually since 2005, is Barcelona, with three victories.
European teams have now won the prize in the past 10 Club World Cups.
"I think we're improving; there were a few mistakes at the back but a ton of quality front and center," Ancelotti said. "The players who were injured are coming back: Karim, [Eder] Militao, and Thibaut Courtois, and this prize gives us a lift to prepare for this finish of the season, and we actually have a ton of certainty."
"It's been a decent tournament for us, and with the improvement we've seen in ongoing games, for the remainder of the season, we're eager to battle until the end in each minute, each game, and each rivalry."
But Al Hilal, the principal team from Saudi Arabia to make the final, made the game a challenge while pulling a goal back with the civility of Moussa Marega.
Madrid raced ahead again early in the final part, this time through the fit-again Karim Benzema and a second for Uruguayan midfielder Valverde, to appear to seal the outcome with a little more than 30 minutes remaining.
Instead, Madrid supervisor Carlo Ancelotti is probably not going to be too intrigued by allowing Al Hilal a route back into the game again through a brace from former Atletico Madrid forward Luciano Vietto, either side of a second from Vinicius.
Al Hilal could have ensured real late drama if not for a bad miss from Marega, but Madrid Al Hilal could have ensured real late drama if not for a bad miss from Marega, but Madrid had enough to see out a ultimately deserved win in a game that set the record for the most combined goals in a Club World Cup final.had enough to see out a ultimately deserved win in a game that set the record for the most combined goals in a Club World Cup final.
The Spanish giants have now won all five finals they have faced, having recently brought home three championships in four years between 2014 and 2018. The following most successful team in the FIFA tournament, which began in 2000 and has been held annually since 2005, is Barcelona, with three victories.
European teams have now won the prize in the past 10 Club World Cups.
"I think we're improving; there were a few mistakes at the back but a ton of quality front and center," Ancelotti said. "The players who were injured are coming back: Karim, [Eder] Militao, and Thibaut] Courtois, and this prize gives us a lift to prepare this finish of the season, and we actually have a great deal of certainty.
"It's been a decent tournament for us, the improvement we've seen in late games, the remainder of the season we're eager to battle until the end in each minute, each game, each rivalry."