Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal 5-3: Club World Cup 2022 – as it happened
All the updates from the Club World Cup 2022 final between Real Madrid and Al-Hilal at Prince Moulay Abdelleh Stadium.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal Club World Cup 2022 final on Saturday, February 11.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal Club World Cup 2022 final on Saturday, February 11.
- UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid beat Al Ahly on Wednesday to set up a FIFA Club World Cup final against Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
- Real Madrid are vying to be crowned the best club football team on the planet for a historic fifth time in Morocco.
- The 19th edition of the Club World Cup brings together the respective champions of each of FIFA’s six premier regional competitions, alongside the host nation’s league champions.
- Joining Real Madrid in this year’s tournament were sides from Morocco, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Brazil and the United States.
Full-time: Real Madrid 5-3 Al-Hilal
With a final blow of the whistle, Real Madrid are crowned the FIFA Club World Cup champions for a fifth time.
Carlo Ancelotti joins Pep Guardiola as the only manager to win the tournament on three separate occasions.
Not many would have predicted this final scoreline but credit to Al-Hilal for not giving in at various stages of the match.
They were down 2-0 relatively early on and managed to answer back.
In the second half when Real Madrid threatened to run away after going up 4-1, they once again responded with a goal of their own.
Ultimately though, the gulf in class between the sides came to the fore and Real Madrid will head home with yet another trophy in their glittering war chest.
Seven minutes of stoppage time
With a goal-laden second half, it comes with no surprise that the fourth official has called for seven additional minutes of stoppage time.
Will that give Al-Hilal enough time to tie things up though?
90+1 mins: Real Madrid 5-3 Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal win threatening free kick
The attempt is taken from the right side of the box about 25 metres out.
Nasser Aldawsari is responsible for taking it but instead of sending it into the middle, he decides to go for glory.
However, he overcooks the delivery as Lunin is left with nothing to do in the end.
89 mins: Real Madrid 5-3 Al-Hilal
Double change for Al-Hilal
It is the end of the night for Vietto and Marega, who have arguably been their best players up front.
It will be Odion Ighalo and Abdullah Al-Hamdan who come on in their place.
87 mins: Real Madrid 5-3 Al-Hilal
Marega misses a huge opportunity
Al-Hilal almost make it four as they try to pile on the pressure on Real Madrid.
After a speculative shot is taken at Lunin, the ball finds its way to Marega on the right side of the box.
He seemingly has an open goal to shoot at but he sends the ball just wide.
It would have really broken this game open if they had brought it down to just a one-goal advantage, especially with less than 10 minutes left in regulation play.
81 mins: Real Madrid 5-3 Al-Hilal
GOAL!
A defensive lapse at the back from Madrid allows Vietto to grab a second.
After his initial effort was stopped at the near post from the left side, a breakdown in communication between Camavinga and Lunin affords Vietto a chance.
He quickly recovers the ball, turns and then fires in a shot at an open goal.
79 mins: Real Madrid 5-3 Al-Hilal
Rodrygo has a pop from distance
Real Madrid search for a sixth as Rodrygo picks up the ball from outside the box.
The Brazilian decides to have a crack from long range but Al-Mayouf is equal to the task.
77 mins: Real Madrid 5-2 Al-Hilal
More changes in Rabat
There is activity once again in the technical area as both sides elect to make changes.
Al-Hilal decide to bring on Michael and Nasser Aldawsari for Carrillo and Salem Aldawsari
As for Real Madrid, midfield duo Kroos and Modric come off for Marco Asensio and Nacho Fernandez.
Looks like Nacho will slot into a more central defensive role, while Alaba moves to a left-back position.
75 mins: Real Madrid 5-2 Al-Hilal
GOAL!
Real Madrid restore their original three-goal advantage thanks to Vinicius Jr.
The Brazilian looks to penetrate from the left side as he slaloms into the box.
He temporarily loses the ball, which Ceballos recovers, but then quickly has it back as he unleashes a curler which beats Al-Mayouf to the left of him.
That makes it a brace now for both Valverde and Vinicius Jr, with both threatening to complete a hat-trick at the rate this match is going.
69 mins: Real Madrid 5-2 Al-Hilal
GOAL!
Vietto creates some intrigue in Rabat after Al-Hilal close the gap to 4-2.
Similar to the Marega’s effort in the first half, Al-Hilal once again strike against the run of play.
Vietto receives a lovely through ball on the right side and is able to get rather close towards Lunin.
He finishes with a delightful finesse shot to the right of the keeper as the ball curls into the net.
63 mins: Real Madrid 4-2 Al-Hilal
Real Madrid make substitutions
Tchouameni is brought down in a rather untoward challenge and looks to be struggling here as he receives medical attention.
Given their current three-goal cushion, manager Carlo Ancelotti decides now is the time to make some key changes.
It will be Benzema and Tchouameni to come off in place of Rodrygo and Dani Ceballos respectively.
62 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Al-Hilal
GOAL!
Real Madrid are running away with it now as Valverde scores again.
This time it is the other flank that does the deed as Carvajal and Valverde link up superbly.
Carvajal sends in a precise pass as Valverde closes in on the near post from the right side.
The Uruguayan receives it without any defensive attention on him and is able to cooly slot it past Al-Mayouf to add to his earlier effort.
59 mins: Real Madrid 4-1 Al-Hilal
GOAL!
Benzema strikes out of nowhere to give Real Madrid a decisive 3-1 lead.
A clever one-two between Camavinga and Vinicius allows the latter to send in a precise cross into the box from the left.
Benzema is well aware and strikes at the opportune moment with a header to give the Spanish side a healthy advantage early on in this second half.
54 mins: Real Madrid 3-1 Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal intent on leveling the score
While the quality in the final third has been found wanting, Al-Hilal are looking far better in this half in terms of patiently building and linking play.
They have already had a few opportunities in the Real Madrid end but have ultimately been snuffed out by the defence.
53 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
End-to-end stuff in Rabat
It has started to drizzle somewhat at Prince Moulay Abdelleh Stadium, but that hasn’t doused the spirits of either side as they look to secure an early goal in the half.
48 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
Second half under way
The players resurface from the tunnel and are ready to roll for this second half.
This time it will be Real Madrid’s turn to open proceedings.
Can they secure a two-goal advantage, or will Al-Hilal equalise to take this match the distance?
46 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
History repeats itself
Vinicius goal in Valverde assist in
UCL final UCL finalVinicius goal in Valverde goal in
FIFA Club World FIFA Club World
Cup final Cup final pic.twitter.com/5njFCUxSJ0— Omar Aref 🇦🇪 (@LosB1ancos_) February 11, 2023
Half-time: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
The referee blows the whistle and the players come off for what has been a somewhat tantalising contest between the two sides.
Initially, it looked like Real Madrid were going to smother Al-Hilal after going up 2-0 within 20 minutes, but the Saudi side has done well to recover and reduce the deficit to just one goal after Marega’s excellent run.
Los Blancos did threaten to increase the gap at certain points but were unable to finish convincingly.
They will need to be on their guard as Al-Hilal will certainly be buoyed by how the first half has gone.
Aldawsari almost gets penalty
After receiving the ball inside the box on the left side, the Saudi international almost does well to get past Rudiger.
The German, however, uses his backside to bring down the forward, with Al-Hilal instantly calling for a penalty but the referee waves it off.
45+3 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
Two minutes of stoppage time
The fourth official has signalled for two minutes of stoppage time.
45+1 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
Benzema chance goes just wide
Valverde spots the Frenchman at the far post from the right side and sends in a lovely cross.
He finds his target but Benzema is unable to make anything of it as his attempt to beat Al-Mayouf ends up going wide.
42 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
Real Madrid win free kick
The Spanish side secure a free kick about 40 metres out, just right of centre.
Kroos tries to find someone in the middle but after a couple of attempts to control the ball, Al-Mayouf is able to get his hands on it to eliminate the threat.
40 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
Marega effort goes skyward
He has been the linchpin of the Al-Hilal attack.
The Mali international receives the ball on the right side and makes a run into the box.
However, he is trailed by Rudiger who does well to put enough pressure on the striker as he tries to get a shot on the net but ends up missing the target completely.
38 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal continue to hunt for equaliser
They have enjoyed the lion’s share of possession since Marega’s goal but Real Madrid are holding on strong.
Al-Hilal need to be cautious, though, in giving any kind of leeway to their opponents.
36 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal
Real Madrid knocking on Al-Hilal’s door
With that Marega effort, there is a more conscious effort by Real Madrid to hold onto possession and try to sustain pressure on the Al-Hilal end.
They do their best to look for a gap in the fortress set up by the Saudi side but fail to penetrate in any meaningful way.
30 mins: Real Madrid 2-1 Al-Hilal