Carlo Ancelotti (Reuters Photo)
Real Madrid faces Mexican club Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday. This gives coach Carlo Ancelotti a chance to surpass Miguel Munoz as Real Madrid’s most decorated coach.
Ancelotti currently shares the record with Muñoz, having each won 14 trophies. Muñoz coached Real Madrid during the 1960s and 1970s.
A victory for Real Madrid would be their fourth Intercontinental Cup title. This would make them the most successful club in the competition’s history. Pachuca is aiming for their first Intercontinental Cup win.
The Intercontinental Cup brings together the champions from each of the six continental soccer confederations. The tournament is undergoing changes as FIFA prepares to expand the Club World Cup to 32 teams in 2025.
Real Madrid, as the European championautomatically qualified for the final. Pachuca earned their spot by defeating South American champion Botafogo and Al Ahly of Egypt. These preliminary rounds took place in Qatar.
Kylian Mbappé is expected to be available for Real Madrid after recovering from a left-thigh injury.
Mbappé’s injury occurred during Real Madrid’s 3-2 Champions League victory against Atalanta. He was substituted after scoring a goal.
He subsequently missed Real Madrid’s 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Real Madrid has a rich history in the Intercontinental Cup and the Club World Cup. They won the Intercontinental Cup three times in 1960, 1998, and 2002.
This was before FIFA established the annual Club World Cup. Real Madrid has won the Club World Cup five times: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022.
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