Real Madrid win record fourth Club World Cup

Real Madrid have won a third consecutive and record fourth Club World Cup after they beat Al Ain 4-1 in Abu Dhabi.

Goals from Luka Modric, Marcos Llorente, Sergio Ramos and a late own goal sealed Los Blancos’ fourth Club World Cup in the last five seasons.

The rout started as Ballon d’Or winner Modric curled a left footed effort past the despairing goalkeeper on 14 minutes. Surprisingly, despite his 15 honours won with Real, the goal marked the Croatian’s first goal in a final.

Real had overcome Japanese side Kashima Antlers to reach this stage and made their dominance tell as they doubled their lead early in the second half.

Al Ain failed to clear a corner which fell to the feet of Llorente, who hit a thunderous half volley low into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Never one to shy away from the spotlight in finals, Sergio Ramos was next to get on the scoresheet, converting a header from a Toni Kroos corner to put the game beyond the hosts’ reach, before celebrating wildly by pointing to the name on his back.

The Abu Dhabi side did pull a goal back from Tsukasa Shiotani’s header before Nader Moustafa Elsharif’s own goal completed Madrid’s 4-1 victory in the 15th instalment of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Gareth Bale finished top scorer in the tournament with three goals, all coming in his semi final hat-trick against Japan’s Kashima Antlers.

The win marks six consecutive European winners and Santiago Solari, who wins his first trophy as Madrid manager was quick to thank his predecessor Zinedine Zidane for the foundations he laid.

“We are happy, these players deserve it, they have come here after a lot of work and a lot of wins,”

“We put a finishing touch to that third consecutive Champions League, it is a feat of the club, this group and other coaches.

“We are also here thanks to Zidane. It will be difficult to match in the future.”

Santiago Solari talking to TVE

Elsewhere in the third place playoff, South American champions River Plate easily disposed of Madrid’s semi-final counterparts Kashima Antlers running out 4-0 winners.

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