Real Madrid win the Club World Cup with victory over Al Ain
Goals from Modric, Llorente, Ramos and an own goal helped Real Madrid over Al Ain in the the final of the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night.
Real Madrid 4-1 Al Ain: match report
Real Madrid lifted the FIFA Club World Cup for a record fourth time on Saturday after thrashing local side Al Ain 4-1 in the final in Abu Dhabi with the help of impressive distance strikes in either half from midfielders Luka Modric and Marcos Llorente.
Recently crowned Ballon d'Or winner Modric took one touch before thumping the ball into the bottom corner from outside the box to break the deadlock in the 14th minute after Al Ain had missed two early chances to take a shock lead.
Madrid's home-grown midfielder Marcos Llorente doubled the European champions lead on the hour-mark with a superbly struck volley from outside the area.
Real captain Sergio Ramos grabbed his side's third goal with a powerful header from a corner before Al Ain, who shocked South American champions River Plate in the semi-finals, got a late consolation goal through Japanese defender Tsukasa Shiotani.
Madrid substitute Vinicius Jr. burst through in stoppage an fired in a shot which defender Yahia Nader diverted into his own net.
Real have won the last three editions of the tournament, also lifting the trophy in 2014, and moved ahead of Barcelona as the team to have won it the most times.
Real Madrid vs Al Ain: Club World Cup final live updates
Real Madrid vs Al Ain: match preview
Real Madrid can win their third successive FIFA Club World Cup when they take on hosts Al Ain in today's final at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium (17:30 CET).
Real Madrid in final after Bale-inspired semi-final win over Kashima
The Champions League holders qualified for the showpiece clash courtesy of a 3-1 semi-final victory over Japan's Kashima Antlers on Wednesday, with Gareth Bale hitting a hat-trick that leaves him just one goal shy of the seven boasted by the competition's all-time top scorer, former club-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
"It would be exceptional to win the third Club World Cup in a row and it would be great for all these players," said Santiago Solari ahead of a final in which the Argentine can claim his first trophy as Madrid coach in just his 13th game in charge. "It could be difficult to repeat".
"Difference between the teams like that between Smart car and Mercedes"
Having seen off Team Wellington and ES Tunis to reach the last four, meanwhile, UAE Pro-League champions Al Ain caused a major surprise on Tuesday when they knocked Copa Libertadores winners River Plate out on penalties in the tournament's first semi-final.
"Nothing is impossible," declared Al Ain boss Zoran Mamic as he prepared his side to face the 13-time kings of Europe. However, the Croat then also conceded: "I have to be conscious that the difference between the teams is like that between a Smart car and a Mercedes."