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As it happenedended

Real Madrid win Club World Cup after comfortable victory over Al Ain

Latest action from the Club World Cup final

Kishan Vaghela
Saturday 22 December 2018 18:33 GMT
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Real Madrid won the Club World Cup
Real Madrid won the Club World Cup (EPA)

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Real Madrid eased to a 4-1 win over Al Ain to claim a fourth Club World Cup on Saturday.

Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric and Marcos Llorente scored from outside the area, and Sergio Ramos added a late goal to lead the European champions to the world title.

Madrid, who have won the last three Champions Leagues, also won the Club World Cup in 2014, 2016, and 2017.

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Kick-off: Real Madrid 0-0 Al Ain

And we're off in Abu Dhabi. Will Real Madrid make history?

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 16:33

5 min: Real Madrid 0-0 Al Ain

Early possession for Real Madrid and Marcos Llorente has already threatened the Al Ain goal, but his cross is put onto the post By Lucas Vazquez. 

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 16:36

10 min: Real Madrid 0-0 Al Ain

It has certainly been a lively start to the game, but neither side looks much interested in defending.  

Gareth Bale and Marcelo have both had efforts that have gone over the bar, while the former has already threatened to break the UAE side's defensive line.

Similar problems however for Real Madrid, who were also split apart by a pass that Courtois came for but did not claim. 

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 16:39

GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Al Ain (Modric 14')

Real Madrid could have gone behind a minute before, but now the European Champions are ahead.

A cross from the right is well controlled by Benzema, who lays it back for the Croatian Ballon d'Or winner to curl home with his weaker foot.

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 16:45

17 min: Real Madrid 1-0 Al Ain

The Spanish side may be ahead, but they have certainly ridden their luck so far.

Just before the Modric goal, they were opened up after a Marcelo mistake, but ElShahat was denied a solo goal by a Sergio Ramos block. 

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 16:48

19 min: Real Madrid 1-0 Al Ain

It really should be two! Dani Carvajal surges down the right and cuts it back to Lucas Vazquez, who sweeps it just wide of the far post. 

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 16:49

22 min: Real Madrid 1-0 Al Ain

That second goal really doesn't look too far away.

Gareth Bale forces a save after firing a shot at Khalid Eissa, before Karim Benzema's effort is deflected behind seconds later.

Sergio Ramos has a go from the resulting corner, but his header is inaccurate.

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 16:53

27 min: Real Madrid 1-0 Al Ain

Everything just seems to have calmed down a bit at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium after a frantic start which was more symbolic of the final ten minutes of a game than the start.

Real Madrid however do look like they could score at any moment, with their right-hand side combination of Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez causing plenty of problems.

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 16:58

32 min: Real Madrid 1-0 Al Ain

Madrid have not only sharpened up in attack, their defence seems to have shut the gaps that were evident early on.

Marcos Llorente has been partly responsible for that, and he lets out an audible groan as a corner is conceded which he believed to be a goal kick. 

Nothing comes of it however. 

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 17:03

36 min: Real Madrid 1-0 Al Ain

He simply has to score, and under Santiago Solari Karim Benzema has been doing so.

But this is poor from the Frenchman, who blazes over with the whole goal at his mercy after Lucas Vazquez's smart cut-back.

Kishan Vaghela22 December 2018 17:06

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