West News Wire: Real Madrid defeated Egyptian club Al Ahly 4-1 to advance to the Club World Cup final and maintain their chances of setting a record-extending eighth world championship.
At the sold-out Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, Vincius Jnior, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, and Sergio Arribas scored goals for the Spanish team to set up a matchup with Al Hilal in the championship game on Saturday. Tuesday’s 3-2 upset by the Saudi team over Flamengo in Brazil.
Seven times in total, Madrid has won the world club championship, including three times when it was known as the Intercontinental Cup. They are now vying for their first world club championship since 2018.
Al Ahly, who beat MLS side Seattle Sounders and New Zealand’s Auckland City on the way to the semifinals, stayed tight at the back and Madrid initially toiled to break them down.
Vinícius opened the scoring in the 42nd minute for his 50th goal in 202 matches with Madrid. Valverde added to the lead early in the second half.
Ali Maaloul scored the lone goal for Al Ahly, before Rodrygo and Arribas sealed the victory for Madrid in stoppage time. It was the first goal for the 21-year-old Arribas with Madrid’s first team.
Madrid were without six injured players who did not travel to Morocco, including striker Karim Benzema, defender Éder Militão and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Ancelotti said Benzema and Militão will rejoin their teammates for the final, but Courtois, forward Eden Hazard and defenders Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vázquez are not going to make it.
Madrid had been struggling recently, having won only two of their last seven matches in a stint that included defeat against rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
