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Real Madrid Overpower Al Ahly To Reach Record-Breaking Fifth FIFA Club World Cup Final

Real Madrid are the 1st team ever to reach 5 finals in FIFA Club World Cup history. Real beat Al Ahly in their semi-final to set up a showdown with Al-Hilal.

Robert Summerscales

Real Madrid Overpower Al Ahly To Reach Record-Breaking Fifth FIFA Club World Cup Final
Real Madrid Overpower Al Ahly To Reach Record-Breaking Fifth FIFA Club World Cup Final /

Real Madrid are the first team in FIFA Club World Cup history to reach five finals.

The European champions beat Egypt's Al Ahly 4-1 in Wednesday's semi-final to set up a showdown with Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia.

Vinicius Junior gave Real the lead in Rabat when he capitalized on a Mahmoud Metwalli error before providing a fine chipped finish in the 42nd minute.

Federico Valverde doubled Real's lead 58 seconds into the second half when he was first to the rebound after Rodrygo's initial shot had been saved.

Al Ahly pulled a goal back from a penalty on 63 minutes. Ali Maalou converted the spot-kick after Eduardo Camavinga had fouled Hussein El Shahat.

Real were awarded a penalty of their own late on but Luka Modric failed to convert it as he was denied by keeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

However, Modric's miss did not cost his team as a backheeled pass from Daniel Ceballos set up Rodrygo to make it 3-1 moments later.

Substitute Sergio Arribas, 21, then wrapped up the victory by scoring his first ever senior goal.

Players from Real Madrid pictured celebrating a goal during their 4-1 win over Al Ahly in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup in February 2023
Players from Real Madrid pictured celebrating a goal during their 4-1 win over Al Ahly :: IMAGO/nogueirafoto

Carlo Ancelotti's side will now return to the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium for the final on Saturday.

Real will start the final as overwhelming favorites to beat Al-Hilal, despite the Saudi outfit's shock win over South American champions Flamengo earlier this week.

Madrid's FIFA Club World Cup record is pretty flawless to date.

Los Blancos have won this tournament every time they have entered it, starting in 2014 when Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale scored in a 2-0 win over Argentina's San Lorenzo in the final.

Real won three consecutive Club World Cup finals between 2016 and 2018, beating Japan's Kashima Antlers 4-2, Brazilian side Gremio 1-0 and Al-Ain of the UAE 4-1.

The closest Real came to losing a final was in 2016 when they trailed 2-1 to Kashima in Yokohama before winning in extra time.

Including Real, only four teams have competed in multiple Club World Cup finals.

Barcelona are the tournament's second most successful team, having reached four finals, winning three of them.

Brazilian giants Corinthians and Germany's Bayern Munich have each played in and won two finals.

Highlights: Al Ahly 1-4 Real Madrid

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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.

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