Despite the difficulties they have endured in the last few weeks, Real Madrid proved that they are still the king of football world.
Since last October, Real Madrid did not look like an unbeatable team. The team that won almost nearly everything in 2021-2022 season are struggling. Luka Modric and company are losing a lot of ground to their arch-rival in LaLiga, Barcelona. Real Madrid lost their position on the top of the league table with a 2-3 loss at the hand of Rayo Vallecano.
Things went worse for Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Another defeat in the match against Villarreal and Mallorca made Real Madrid now have 8 points deficit from Barcelona, who sit comfortably at the top.
Last month, Real Madrid also missed on one of the trophies that they could get this season. Barcelona beat them 3-1 in the final of Supercopa de Espana. Ancelotti’s situation does not help. Many rumours linking him with the Brazil national team job.
After their failure in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Brazilian team looked for a replacement coach, Tite. Many suggested that Ancelotti was already counting his last days at Real Madrid. So, Real Madrid headed to Morocco for the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup with a lot of questions need to be answered. Their response were great to say the least. Real Madrid gave a performance that made them conquered Europe last season.
A performance that based on conviction that they are the best team in the world. The All Whites easily defeat Al Ahly, runners-up of the 2021-2022 African Champions League, in the semi-final of the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup. With goals from Vinicius Junior (42′), Federico Valverde (46′), Rodrygo Goes (90+2′), and Sergio Arribas (90+8′), Real Madrid beat Al Ahly 4-1.
Real Madrid delivered another goal fiesta in the final against Al Hilal, Saturday (11/2/2023) at Rabat. Los Blancos sealed their fifth Club World Cup title in spectacular way. Goals from Vinicius (13′, 69′), Valverde (18′, 58′), and Karim Benzema (54′) made sure that Real Madrid defeat Al-Hilal with a 5-3 scoreline.
According to Opta, Real Madrid have been crowned world champion more times than any other club in history. They now have three Intercontinental Cup titles and five Club World Cup titles. Real Madrid starting to break away from other clubs in the FIFA Club World Cup, just like they did in the Champions League. Their closest rivals are Barcelona with three titles and Corinthians and Bayern München with two titles each.
In the Champions League, Real Madrid have 14 titles, already twice of the next best team, AC Milan, who have only seven titles in their trophy cabinet. “We’re very happy. For the eighth time Real Madrid is World Champion,” said Ancelotti as quoted from Football Espana. “We played a good game, with lots of quality up top. Vinicius, Benzema, Valverde. They did very well. We had skill and quality.”
Now Real Madrid can go home to Spain in a very good mood. It is very important for them to have a feeling that they are still the best team in the world. In the coming weeks, Real Madrid will be facing a crucial and hard period.
They will come up against Barcelona again in the Copa del Rey semi-final. There are also a Champions League last 16 double header against Liverpool. Real Madrid will need all inner world champion spirits that they could get to overcome these challenges.