On Wednesday in Morocco, Real Madrid defeated Egypt's Al Ahly 4-1 to go to the Club World Cup final. The goals came from Vinicius Junior, Fede Valverde, Rodrygo, and Sergio Arribas.
With a Vinicius chip just before the interval, the defending European kings took the lead, and just after the break, Valverde scored their second.
Ali Maaloul's penalty-shot goal gave the 10-time African Champions League champions a foothold in the game, which caused Madrid to have a more anxious period than they would have liked.
Los Blancos' Luka Modric missed a late penalty because he may have been distracted by spectators' laser pointers shining in his face, but Mohamed El Shenawy saved his effort.
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After a deft connection with Dani Ceballos and rookie Arribas sealed the victory, Rodrygo scored a superb finish in stoppage time.
The winner of the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo, will play Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in the final on Saturday.
Valverde, who reportedly has some personal issues outside of the game, added, "I thank my team-mates who are assisting me in this moment, that is not so good."
They are constantly available to provide me with words of inspiration.
"Scoring the goal and celebrating with them was incredibly special. Now we have to recuperate and work hard to win the final."
The record-breaking four-time Club World Cup champions of Carlo Ancelotti's team anticipated the competition would provide a pleasant diversion from their home problems.
After losing 1-0 to Real Mallorca on Sunday, they dropped to eighth place in La Liga, eight points behind league-leading Barcelona.
In Rabat, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex, the Spanish giants, who were missing injured talents Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois, failed to get going.
David Alaba was able to make his return to the starting lineup under Ancelotti.
Al Ahly, who advanced to the semifinals by defeating MLS teams Seattle Sounders and Auckland City, held firm defensively as Madrid laboured to get past them.
After pressing, Rodrygo hit the upright with a dinked attempt. Hard to get the ball back, while Vinicius missed with a shot from a tight angle.
When it appeared that Marcel Koller's previous Austrian team would go into halftime tied 1-1, Due to Mahmoud Metwaly's error, Vinicius was able to rob him. Break in on goal.
After being pursued by Mallorca players over the weekend and subjected to more racial insults, the Brazilian calmly volleyed the ball over El Shenawy to break the tie.
Experiencing the cost
At the beginning of the second half, Valverde doubled Madrid's advantage by controlling a loose ball in the box with one deft touch and then slamming home with his second.
Since coming from the World Cup, the Uruguayan has not been performing well, and Madrid hopes his latest goal since November will help him regain the strong form he was in before the competition.
When Vinicius came down in the area, Madrid did not get a penalty to end the match, but VAR did not overturn the official's decision to grant a corner.
Then, down the opposite end, Hussein El Shahat was fouled by Eduardo Camavinga, who was now manning left back, and Maaloul converted the penalty by sending Andriy Lunin in the opposite direction.
Afsha missed an excellent opportunity to even the score for the underdogs after receiving a cutback in the centre of the box.
The Egyptian Premier League's unbeaten Al Ahly had to pay as Madrid's triumph was sealed in stoppage time by goals from Rodrygo and substitute Arribas.
Madrid moved away from rumours of a crisis with this triumph after falling behind Barcelona in La Liga and falling to them in the Spanish Super Cup in January.
After winning the European Super Cup in August, they now have their sights set on winning the second trophy of the year against Al-Hilal on Saturday.
