Real Madrid Defeat Pachuca To Win Intercontinental Cup

Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior both found the net as Real Madrid secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the inaugural Intercontinental Cup final in Doha on Wednesday.

Mbappé opened the scoring in the 37th minute, tapping in from close range after a brilliant assist from Vinícius. Rodrygo then extended Madrid’s lead early in the second half with a superb curling strike, before Vinícius sealed the win with a late penalty.

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Mbappé returned to the starting lineup after missing Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano due to a hamstring injury sustained in the Champions League win over Atalanta. The French striker’s goal came after Vinícius, who had won the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year award the day before, provided a clever assist.

Pachuca, led by former West Brom and Newcastle forward Salomón Rondón, struggled to threaten Madrid’s defense throughout the match. Rodrygo’s stunning strike from outside the box gave Madrid full control, despite an offside position by Jude Bellingham that was deemed not to have interfered with play after a VAR review.

Vinícius sealed the win with a penalty in the 84th minute, awarded after Lucas Vázquez was fouled in the box. The decision was confirmed following another VAR check.

“We knew that after a long trip and only one game, it would be difficult. We struggled at the start, but we adapted well,” said Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde on Spanish TV.

The victory marks Madrid’s second title of the season, following their UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta in August. It was also a milestone for manager Carlo Ancelotti, who won his 15th trophy as Real Madrid’s coach, surpassing Miguel Muñoz for the most in club history.

“I’m very pleased, very happy. It’s a success. That’s more than anyone else,” Ancelotti said after the match.

This edition of the FIFA-backed Intercontinental Cup, which replaces the previous format of the Club World Cup, features the six continental champions. The Club World Cup will expand to 32 teams in 2025 and will be held every four years. From 1960 to 2004, the Intercontinental Cup was contested by the champions of Europe and South America, a competition Madrid won three times.

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Madrid will face Pachuca again at next year’s Club World Cup in the United States, along with teams like Al Hilal, featuring Neymar, and Red Bull Salzburg.

Next up, Madrid hosts Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday for their final match of the year, before heading to Saudi Arabia for the four-team Spanish Super Cup in early January.

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