Real Madrid vs Pachuca live online: score, stats and updates, Intercontinental Cup

Madrid starting to up the tempo now and although Moreno in the Pachuca has yet to make a key save, Madrid are starting to attack via both flanks with Mbappé, Rodrygo and Vini looking threatening. 

Possession after 30 minutes:

Real Madrid 68%-32% Pachuca

Idrissi is a fine football player !

It's taken more than 25 minutes but the pattern of the match is now more what we would have expected pre-kick off as Madrid dominate and the Liga MX side are forced to defend deeply.

One observation on the atmosphere, it's rather flat to be honest.

Just an observation on Mbappé, the French striker looks to be moving freely and not a player playing with that hesitation of possibly carrying a knock.

It will be interesting to see if Pachuca can maintain this high energy level they've shown in the opening of the match.

Both teams guilty of many misplaced passes as Rodrygo sees an effort intercepted by Moreno and Madrid win another corner.

We hit the 20 minute mark and it's still Pachuca who are in control as Madrid seem to be somewhat lethargic and sluggish.

Who will complete this line-up?

Let's not forget, Pachuca won three (3) of their 17 games in the Liga MX Apertura  season and finished 16th/18 teams.

At the moment, they are on top of Los Blancos.

We approach the quarter of an hour mark and, it has to be said that Pachuca have created all the danger to date in the final, however the final few minutes have seen Madrid ease their way back into contention as Mbappé, Bellingham and Vini get on the ball with greater frequency. 

Madrid launch a counter and win their first corner of the night.

The speed at which Mbappé and Vini Jr. break at is impressive !

Courtois the saviour again as he palms away a dangerous ball from Idrissi and Madrid are actually suffering here in the opening stages of the final.

Now Montiel almost breaks through with the Madrid back line caught napping and it needs Courtois to be alert again to gather.

A touch of jetlag from the Spanish side who only arrived in Qatar last Tuesday. The Mexican side have been based in Doha for almost two weeks. 

Wow, Rodriguez has a pop from outside the box and it needs Courtois to be alert to divert the ball wide for a corner.

An early shock there for Los Blancos.

Just to give you a very early idea of how the pattern of the game is shaping up...

After the six minutes of the final, Madrid have enjoyed 84% possession !

Free for Madrid as The Best winner Vini Jr. is taken out by two Pachuca players.

A cagey start from both sides with neither keeper yet to be called into action.

Pachuca refusing to let Madrid have any time on the ball.

Away we go in Doha.

We're good to go in Lusail as the countdown to kick-off starts.

Los Blancos will get the action underway.

It may not be a 100% sell-out but there is a very decent crowd in attendance at the iconic stadium this evening as the captain's (Lucas and Rondon) share team pennants and pose for the protocol pre game photos.

Venezuelan Mr Jesus Valenzuela is tonight's match official.

We're all set as fans use their mobile phones to capture the pre game light show as the teams wait in the tunnel to take to the pitch.

Real Madrid in their classic all-white kit with the Mexican side using an all navy kit this evening. 

Tonight's team news

Tonight's teams

Madrid fans dot the stadium

However, despite the presence of over 1,500 Mexican supporters, it's the white Real Madrid jersey that is the dominant feature in the stand tonight with the bulk local Madridistas.

1,500 Pachuca fans present

Despite not being one of the higher profile clubs in Liga MX, 1500 Pachuca fans are expected in Lusail this evening to see their side majke history as they take on the powerhouse that is Real Madrid in the final.

Atmosphere building outside Lusail Stadium

As kick-off looms. fans are starting to make their way into the vast 86,000 capacity arena.

The players will be out for their warm up routine in a matter on minutes.

Real Madrid eye second title of the season

After beating Atalanta in Warsaw last August, Los Blancos bagged their first title of the season and could win an incredible seven major titles this campaign with the introduction of the new expanded FIFA Club World Cup.

After the Intercontinental Cup final, Madrid are in action at the Spanish Super Cup in January (in Jeddah) with the Copa del Rey, LaLiga, Champions League and CWC the other titles on the line this season.

FIFA The Best Awards

The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024: Full list of award winners

Vinicius wasn't the only Real Madrid winner last night at the Best FIFA Awards with 'Los Blancos' boss Carlo Ancelotti also being awarded the Men's Coach of the Year award.

A series of Madrid player such as Carvajal, Bellingham and the now retired Toni Kroos also appeared in the Ideal XI of the Year.

...and finally.. the Pachuca starting team

Some tweaks from Tuzos boss Guillermo Almada as Barreto starts in place of Cabral with Deossa also getting drafted into the side for the final.

We're still waiting for the Pachuca starting XI to be announced, but the key men for the Mexican side are veteran striker Solomon Rondon (who was excellent against Botafogo) and Oussama Idrissi who enjoyed a spell in Laliga with Sevilla FC and has impressed for 'Los Tuzos' in their time in Qatar.

Both players are expected to start for the Liga MX outfit.

FIFA Intercontinental Cup

What’s the difference between the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup?

Intercontinental Cup... Club World Cup....

There may be many of you wondering what precisely is this competition... is it the same as the old Club World Cup?

Anyhow, just as well that our colleague Roddy Cons is on the case and he has drafted up this explanier that outlines the differences between both FIFA club competitions. 

Mbappé starts

The Frenchman became the latest in a long line of Madrid players to suffer fitness issues in the first half of the Champions League victory away to Atalanta last Tuesday, December 10.

Having scored the opening goal in Italy, Mbappé was replaced by Rodrygo after suffering a thigh injury, which immediately cast doubt over his participation in today's FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Much of the pregame talk has entered around his fitness level after he was ruled out of Saturday’s draw against Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga.

Ancelotti, however was making positive noises in the past few days and with the French striker passing a late fitness test, he will take his position up front in Doha.

Lusail is ready

How many fans will pack into the spectacular 86,000 capacity stadium tonight?

As of 24 hours ago, tickets were still available for the game which is also being held on national Qatar day.

What do we know about Pachuca?

With six CONCACAF Champions League and seven Liga MX titles in their trophy cabinet, Pachuca, the self-proclaimed ‘team of Mexico’ are looking to write another chapter in Mexican football tonight.

Nobody saw the Liga MX outfit beating Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo with such ease at the quarter-final stage as Guillermo Almada’s side needed a penalty shoot-out to beat African champions Al Ahly in the semifinals last Saturday to secure a berth in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup final.

Pachuca were far from favourites on their road to a place at the Intercontinental Cup. The side from Hidalgo had to overcome Club América at the semifinals stage of the CONCACAF Champions League before beating highly tipped Columbus Crew 3-0 in the final with the ‘Tuzos’ thriving upon being labelled the ‘underdog’.

The side is led by coach Guillermo Almada and the Uruguayan has been pivotal in improving his side at this competition despite a poor showing in the recent domestic Liga MX Apertura season. The 58-year-coach has confirmed that he will stand down from the club upon the conclusion of the 2025 Club World Cup.

Intercontinental Cup

Who is Jesús Valenzuela Sáez, the referee for Pachuca vs Real Madrid, Intercontinental Cup final?

Real Madrid XI out

So, Mbappé is back... The French striker has shaken off the muscular niggles and will lead the line with Brazilian Vinicius Jr, fresh from being awarded The FIFA Best Award last night at Education City.

Thcouameni is back in defensive duties for Ancelotti's men in Doha.

The action gets underway at 12:00 pm ET or 09:00 for those in the Pacific time zone.

The setting for tonight's final is Lusail Stadium with the colossal venue being the very same where Argentina were crowned world champions two years ago to the very day.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2024 Intercontinental Cup final as Real Madrid face Mexico's CF Pachuca.