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Real Madrid reach World Club Cup final

December 13, 2017

Real had to come from behind against underdogs Al-Jazira, but Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo delivered the goods. The Champions League winners therefore advance to club football's most glitzy and meaningless final.

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FIFA Club World Cup - Al Jazira vs. Real Madrid
Image: Reuters/M. Childs

Real Madrid's unwanted December distraction, a trip to FIFA's World Club Cup as Champions League winners, will continue according to script despite a scare on Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates. 

After having two goals disallowed, Real fell behind to a Romarinho goal in the 40th minute against Al-Jazira, the reigning UAE league champions. Their keeper, Ali Khasif, had a standout performance keeping Los Blancos at bay, until he was forced off injured in the second half. 

With Khasif out of the way, Cristiano Ronaldo equalized courtesy of a tasty assist from Luka Modric. With the strike, Ronaldo became the all-time best scorer in the Club World Cup with six goals.

Karim Benzema twice rattled the frame of the goal after that. Finally, Modric was the creator once again with eight minutes remaining, feeding substitute Gareth Bale to complete the comeback for a 2-1 win for Real Madrid. 

Madrid, twice winners of the mid-season money-spinner in years past, will face South American champions Gremio, from Porto Alegre in Brazil, in the final on Saturday. Al-Jazira will face Mexico's Pachuca in the third-place playoff.

Hallam Mark Kommentarbild App
Mark Hallam News and current affairs writer and editor with DW since 2006.@marks_hallam