Real Madrid win the Intercontinental Cup thanks to a twirling Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid had another appointment with history this Wednesday. The Spanish club was playing its 8th Intercontinental Cup final (5 victories before kick-off) against Pachuca, as a small taste of the Club World Cup which will take place next summer in the United States where the two teams must challenge each other. Casa Blanca was keen to shine, the day after Vinicius Junior was awarded the FIFA-The Best trophy as best player of the year. Another player knew he was expected since two years to the day, it was on this same lawn in Doha that Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick in a historic World Cup final, but lost by the Blues.

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Winner of the Egyptians of Al Ahly on penalties (0-0, 6-5 tab) in the previous round, Pachuca did not seem marked by the stakes of such a match. On the contrary, the Mexicans bravely played their luck against a slightly apathetic opponent during the first half hour. They brought out the ball better, carried out consistent pressing and even put Courtois to work on this long shot from Luis Rodriguez (7th). Rondon also tried his hand at long distance after a ball lost by Camavinga (33rd) but this apparent domination of Pachuca still revealed a sterile character. However, we must always steal Real when it is possible to do so.

Vinicius did it all

The backlash is often terrible and the last winner of the Concacaf Champions Cup had the bitter experience. The action of Vinicius Junior, served by Bellingham, changed everything. Launched, the Brazilian allowed himself to eliminate the opposing goalkeeper with a double leg pass to offer Mbappé a ready goal (1-0, 37th). The Frenchman could even have scored a double before the break if he had managed to get his shot on target (39th). It was time for Pachuca, suffering during this highlight in Madrid, to return to the locker room. The break unfortunately did not bring any advice to Guillermo Almada’s men, who were picked up on a new individual feat as soon as they returned from the locker room.

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This time it was the work of Rodrygo, able to eliminate two defenders on his feint shot and his hook, before finding the small net with a curled right at the entrance to the area (2-0, 53rd ). Well launched in this meeting, the Merengues relaxed slightly, allowing the Mexicans to call on Courtois, first by Gonzalez (60th) then by Rondon on a free kick (67th), the latter not targeting a powerful header (71st). Real Madrid was already beginning to celebrate a new trophy fully acquired after a penalty caused by Lucas Vazquez and converted by Vinicius (3-0, 84th). This is the club’s 6th Intercontinental Cup, the 2nd trophy of the season after the European Super Cup in August, and a 15th title (a record) for Ancelotti at the head of Real.