Mbappe strikes as Real Madrid beat Pachuca to win FIFA Intercontinental Cup final

Real Madrid beat Pachuca 3-0 in Doha to seal FIFA Intercontinental Cup glory.

Pachuca started the game well, looking to get forward quickly and get at the Real Madrid defence. The Mexican outfit had a succession of early shots but nothing to really trouble goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Real Madrid showed their class after 37 minutes, scoring with their first shot on target of the match. Vinicius Junior latched onto a brilliant pass from Jude Bellingham before taking the ball around Carlos Moreno and unselfishly sliding the ball across to Kylian Mbappe, who was able to tap home into an empty net from close range.

Pachuca had their first real chance after 52 minutes when Nelson Deossa found space on the edge of the box before letting fly, with a deflection taking it just past the post.

Just a minute later, Rodrygo made it 2-0 to Real Madrid with a real moment of magic. The Brazilian took the ball to the left-hand side of the edge of the box before shifting it back onto his right foot and bending an effort past Moreno.

The referee was summoned to the VAR monitor over a possible offside due to Bellingham’s positioning, but the referee stuck with his original decision that the Englishman was not interfering with play and the goal stood.

Salomon Rondon came close to halving the deficit on the 70-minute mark when the Venezuelan rose highest to power Elias Montiel’s cross towards goal with a good header, but it sailed agonisingly over the bar for the Pachuca man.

Real Madrid made sure of the result five minutes from time when Vinicius fired his penalty past Moreno after Lucas Vazquez was fouled in the penalty area.

Real Madrid’s victory over Pachuca in Doha tonight saw them claim the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, their second trophy of the season.

The are just a point behind Barcelona and Atletico in La Liga, and will fancy their chances of beating anyone in the Champions League playoffs should that be the route they have to take once the league stage is wrapped up.

They might have two trophies in the bag already this season, but the objective for Carlo Ancelotti and his side is to be there or there about once the major honours start getting dished out in the business end of the campaign.

The Real Madrid man put in a quality performance in the 62 minutes he was on the pitch. He was on hand to stroke home the opening goal of the game after great work from Vinicius, and turned provider just after half-time, playing a pass into Rodrygo, who doubled Madrid’s lead. Mbappe was a constant threat on the ball, going past Pachuca players as if they were not there and playing good passes into his team-mates to create attacks. A solid shift from the Frenchman.

Real Madrid: Courtois 8, Vazquez 7, Tchouameni 7, Rudiger 7, Garcia 7, Valverde 8, Camavinga 7, Rodrygo 8, Bellingham 8, Vini Jr 8, Mbappe 9 Subs: Ceballos 6, Diaz 7, Modric 6, Asencio N/A, Guler N/A

Pachuca: Moreno 6, Gonzalez 6, Micolta 6, Barreto 6, Rodriguez 6, Montiel 6, Pedraza 6, Idrissi 7, Deossa 7, Bautista 6, Rondon 6 Subs: Sanchez 6, Mena 6, Dominguez N/A, Hernandez N/A

37’ GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 PACHUCA (MBAPPE) – Real Madrid have taken the lead with their first shot on target! Vinicius Junior latches onto a brilliant pass from Bellingham, takes it around the goalkeeper before sliding it across for Mbappe who taps home from close range. A superb goal.

52’ A HUGE CHANCE FOR PACHUCA! – Deossa fires an effort from just outside of the box which takes a deflection which takes it just past the post. Courtois wasn not getting near that!

53’ GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-0 PACHUCA (RODRYGO) – Rodrygo has made it 2-0 to Real Madrid with a fantastic goal! A moment of magic from the Brazilian. He took the ball to the left then shifted it back on his right foot before bending a superb effort past Moreno.

84’ GOAL! REAL MADRID 3-0 PACHUCA (VINI JR) – Vinicius Junior makes no mistake from the penalty spot to all but seal the FIFA Intercontinental Cup for Real Madrid.