Kylian Mbappé helped fire Real Madrid to Intercontinental Cup glory with a goal in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Pachuca at Lusail Stadium.
The 25-year-old had been a fitness worry having suffered a thigh injury during last week’s Champions League win over Atalanta. Mbappé missed Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, but was deemed fit enough to travel to Qatar.
Mbappé scored the opener for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, taking his tally to 13 goals in 23 appearances since joining from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Jude Bellingham started a flowing move by playing in Vinícius Júnior, who went round Pachuca keeper Carlos Moreno before pulling the ball back for the France forward to score.
Mexican outfit Pachuca had defeated the Copa Libertadores champions, Brazil’s Botafogo, 3-0 and then edged past Egyptian side Al-Ahly on penalties to reach the final. They started the stronger, with Luis Rodríguez forcing a save from Thibaut Courtois before Oussama Idrissi and Alán Bautista saw chances come and go.
After Mbappé struck in the 37th minute, Real Madrid took charge with Federico Valverde firing narrowly wide and Bellingham’s header also missing the target. They got their second goal eight minutes into the second half when Rodrygo twisted and turned before hitting an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 20 yards.
Courtois was back in action to repel Bryan González’s drive and then kept out an effort from the 35-year-old former West Brom and Everton striker, Salomón Rondón. With six minutes remaining, Real wrapped up victory when Lucas Vázquez was tripped in the area by Idrissi and Vinícius stepped up to fire home the penalty.
Having won three trophies in the original Intercontinental Cup – which pitched European and South American champions against each other – and another five Club World Cups, Real Madrid have now won a combined total of nine global titles. Fifa’s annual tournament has been renamed the Intercontinental Cup, with a new quadrennial 32-team Club World Cup starting next summer.
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“We are very happy for another title,” Rodrygo told the Spanish TV channel Telecinco. “I was a bit anxious with the goal because Jude was in front of the goalkeeper but he doesn’t interfere with the play, so I’m happy to help the team. Vinícius is great, he is playing really well right now and we are pleased to have him with us. We have a great team and we are delighted.”
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