Real Madrid win a record fifth Club World Cup, but can they defend the Champions League?
As Real Madrid beat Liverpool in Paris to win the Champions League for a 14th time, they also booked their place in the Club World Cup. Perhaps a tournament that has lost its pedigree in recent years, the aim is to bring each continental champion over to a neutral venue and have them battle it out for the title of world’s best domestic sides. While there are ongoing changes to the tournament’s structure, one that would see more times take place in a summer-based competition when there aren’t major international fixtures, this year’s was held in Morocco and saw Madrid win for a record-extending fifth time.
Indeed, the Champions League winners tend to dominate the competition, with English sides Liverpool and Chelsea winning their first Club World Cups either side of Bayern Munich in 2020. You’d have to go back as far as 2012 to find a winner outside of Europe, when Corinthians of Brazil lifted the title in Japan. However, it was Madrid on hand to live up to their billing as favourites amongst football betting sites as they beat Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia 5-3 in an exciting final.
After bypassing Al Ahly in a routine victory, Carlo Ancelotti’s side resumed more of the same with the way they started. Los Blancos were in cruise control as the sticky Moroccan evening heat sweltered the early part of the game. Plenty of possession was unable to be converted into chances until a quickfire double from Vinicius Jr and Federico Valverde — the two players involved in Madrid’s Champions League winning goal — gave them a 2-0 advantage within 20 minutes. The Saudi Pro League side, scattered with European talent, weren’t giving up that easily though, and former Porto winger Moussa Marega pulled one back before the interval.
Then came the return of Karim Benzema. The Frenchman, who had missed the World Cup due to injury, was ready to make his comeback and wasted no time in finding the back of the net. It took just nine minutes for Benzema to extend Madrid’s lead before Vini and Valverde added their braces, making two goals from Luciano Vietto mere consolations. 5-3 on the night and had Madrid been less wasteful, registering 17 shots throughout the game, they could have run up a cricket score.
The question now remains, can they deliver on Europe’s biggest stage? In a rematch of last year’s final Madrid face Liverpool in the last 16, but this time it won’t be at a neutral ground. The first leg being played at Anfield is a massive leveller for the Reds, as their boisterous crowd will want to drown out the wave of Madrid attacks, especially since Ancelotti has virtually nothing left to lose.
It looks as if La Liga is heading to Barcelona so all the Madrid eggs are being thrown in the Champions League basket in the hopes of winning the illustrious competition for a 15th time. Despite some poor domestic form, the win in the Club World Cup is more silverware in the cabinet and could ultimately serve as the momentum boost Los Blancos need to get over the line against Liverpool and start plotting their journey to Istanbul for the final.
