Real Madrid Outclass Pachuca to Win Inaugural Intercontinental Cup

Real Madrid have claimed the first-ever FIFA Intercontinental Cup trophy following a 3-0 win against Mexican side Pachuca in the competition’s final on Wednesday.

Pachuca overcame Al Ahly through penalties in the previous round to reach the final, but facing the reigning European champions posed a more significant challenge for the Liga MX team. Who struggled against their opponents in Qatar.

The match’s first goal arrived in the 37th minute. When Kylian Mbappe finished a low cross from Vinicius Junior, completing a brilliant team move that included Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham.

Rodrygo extended Real Madrid’s lead early in the second half with a well-placed shot.

Which prompted a VAR review due to Bellingham’s presence in an offside position in front of the Pachuca keeper; however, the referee upheld his original call.

Real Madrid added their third goal via a https://ufabet999.app penalty in the 83rd minute, with Vinicius successfully converting after Oussama Idrissi fouled Lucas Vazquez.

Despite producing ten attempts during the match, Pachuca, the seven-time Mexican champions, never posed a real threat, as Real Madrid demonstrated their superiority, as anticipated.

Pachuca captain Salomon Rondon had Thibaut Courtois stretching to save a long-range free-kick, before the former West Brom and Everton striker, 35, sent a header narrowly over the crossbar.

A day after being named men’s player of the year at the Fifa Best awards, Vinicius added a third from the penalty spot after Lucas Vazquez was brought down by Oussama Idrissi.

The inaugural edition of the Intercontinental Cup essentially a replacement for the Fifa Club World Cup, which will instead take place next summer involved the winners of five continental club competitions taking part in a straight knockout tournament.

Pachuca, winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup, defeated Caf Champions League holders Al-Ahly of Egypt to reach the final. Uefa Champions League winners Madrid did not take part in the previous rounds.