UEFA Champions League defending Champions, Real Madrid yesterday defeated Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal 5-3 to emerge winners of this year’s FIFA Club World Cup.
The first 20 minute of the encounter produced two goals for the Galacticos, courtesy of Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde, before Al Hilal pulled one back shortly afterwards through Malian forward Moussa Marega.
Karim Benzema, back in the team after injury, then made it 3-1 to Madrid after 54 minutes and Valverde scored his second of the night to put Los Blancos 4-1 up before an hour had been played.
But Al Hilal did not give in and former Atletico and Villarreal forward Lucas Vietto scored twice, before Vinicius added the 5th to put the game beyond reach for the Saudi-Arabian side 10 minute to the end of the encounter.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who qualified as Champions League winners last season, had far too much attacking quality for their opponents to handle.
The result meant that Madrid have won the tourney for the fifth time in their career and the only club ever to do so.
The feat is also Madrid’s second piece of silverware of the season, after winning the European Super Cup in August.
Recall that Madrid also won the Intercontinental Cup (which preceded this tournament) on three occasions.
“We are very happy, for the eighth time Madrid are champions of the world, it was what we had to do,” Ancelotti told Telecinco.
“We’re happy, it was a good game. We had a lot of quality up front.
“I think we were good up front, with Vinicius, Karim, Valverde, who got two, up top the team had mobility and quality.”
