BARCELONA, Feb 6 — Real Madrid head to Morocco in search of their fifth Club World Cup trophy, a welcome distraction from crisis talk after falling eight points behind rivals...
BARCELONA, Feb 6 — Real Madrid head to Morocco in search of their fifth Club World Cup trophy, a welcome distraction from crisis talk after falling eight points behind rivals Barcelona in La Liga yesterday.
The record four-time Club World Cup champions face Egyptian side Al Ahly, runners-up in the African Champions League, on Wednesday in the second semi-final. French striker Karim Benzema, the current Ballon d’Or holder, has been set back by frequent injuries and is a doubt for the semi-final, while several other squad members have also been sidelined.
Vinicius has also been the victim of racist abuse on multiple occasions this season from opposition supporters, including during Madrid’s defeat last weekend, a matter being investigated by La Liga. “We won’t throw away a competition, because this club does not throw away competitions,” Ancelotti said last week.
Madrid also won three Intercontinental Cups in 1960, 1998 and 2002 — a match between European and South American champions, which merged with the Club World Cup in 2005.