Real Madrid are World Champions after they beat Argentina’s San Lorenzo 2-0 in the final in Marrakesh! Once again Sergio Ramos was the hero of the night, the Spanish international defender shrugging off an injury and heading in another Kroos corner to open the scoring shortly before the break, a goal which won him the “player of the tournament” award. Before that Ancelotti’s side had been on top in a physical game, Ronaldo seeing a couple of free kicks deflected away by the defensive wall, and Benzema and Bale coming up against Torrico. Ronaldo felt he should have had a penalty when his shot hit Kannemann on the arm shortly before the interval, but some six minutes after the restart Gareth Bale added a second, shooting low under the keeper after picking up Isco’s pass. Benzema went close a couple of times after that, and Casillas wasn’t called upon until the last ten minutes, when he had to save long efforts from Kalinski and Mercier. A new trophy for Madrid, but their fourth title of the year, and after a record run of 22 consecutive victories they will be looking to add to their successes in the new year. (20.12.14)
Real Madrid marched on through to the final of the Club World Cup after a comfortable 0-4 win over Cruz Azul, a result which extended their record run of consecutive victories to 21. Ronaldo and Benzema went close before Sergio Ramos headed in a Kroos free kick to start things off, and Benzema got on the end of Carvajal’s cross to make it two with ten minutes to go to the break. Casillas had to save a Torrado penalty soon afterwards though after Ramos pushed over Pavone in the area, but Bale headed a third from Ronaldo’s cross soon after the restart. A few minutes later Ronaldo delighted the crowd with a “cow tail” shot at goal which Corona kept out, and substitute Barrera hit the woodwork for the Mexicans at the other end. Isco rounded things off though later on, picking up another Ronaldo assist and ghosting past three or four defenders before shooting past the keeper, and it could have been more after that, Khedira heading against the post and Corona saving from another Ronaldo free kick near the end. (16.12.14)