Against Pachuca
©IMAGO
Champions League winners Real Madrid won another title at the end of the year and won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup for the first time. The team around superstar Kylian Mbappé easily defeated opponents CF Pachuca from Mexico in Lusail in Qatar 3-0 (1-0) and has a fifth title in 2024 after the championship, the premier class title and the Supercups at national and European level won.
Mbappé (37th), Rodrygo (53rd) and Vinicius Junior (84th/foul penalty) scored the goals for the Royals in the 2022 World Cup final stadium, who showed great efficiency in front of the goal. Rodrygo’s goal was verified via video evidence. Although Jude Bellingham was clearly offside when the Brazilian shot, referee Jesús Valenzuela did not see the English star Pachuca keeper Carlos Moreno irritating. The referee justified and explained his decision to the spectators via microphone. The day after his election as world footballer, Vinicius Junior made the final score from the penalty spot. Valenzuela also looked at the creation of the penalty on the screen and explained it.
The Intercontinental Cup is the successor competition to the Club World Cup, which is scheduled to take place every four years from 2025 with 32 teams. The premiere edition will be released in the USA next summer (June 14th to July 13th). Real Madrid and Pachuca will meet again on June 22nd in Charlotte. Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia complete Group H. The Intercontinental Cup is scheduled annually.