Al Ahly 1-4 Real Madrid: Player ratings as Los Blancos reach FIFA Club World Cup final
Real Madrid are into the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup final against AFC Champions League representative Al-Hilal after successfully seeing of Egyptian side Al Ahly on Wednesday.
Los Blancos were last crowned world champions in 2018 and are gunning for an eighth global title.
Both Real and Al Ahly had good chances in an entertaining first half, but it was the Spanish side who were more clinical. Vinicius Junior fired Carlo Ancelotti’s side ahead in the closing stage of the half, with Federico Valverde then doubling that lead shortly after the break.
Al Ahly did make it interesting by pulling one back midway through the second half. The impressive Hussein El-Shahat was brought down by stand-in left-back Eduardo Camavinga and Tunisia’s World Cup left-back Ali Maaloul converted from the penalty spot.
Andriy Lunin was actually the busier of the two goalkeepers as the second half continued, before Luka Modric squandered the chance to wrap things up with a spot-kick of his own. It was a poor penalty straight at Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawi.
Real left it late, but eventually did have the cushion they were after as Rodrygo and then stoppage time substitute Sergio Arribas each netted at the death.
Al Ahly player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Shenawi (6); RB: Hany (6), CB: Metwali (4), CB: Abdelmonem (6), LB: Maaloul (6); CM: Sulaya (6), CM: Dieng (6); RM: Shahat (7), AM: Afsha (6), LM: Abdelkader (6); ST: Sherif (6)
Substitutes
Tau (5), Fathi (6), Mohamed (6), Kahraba (n/a)
Real Madrid player ratings
GK: Lunin (7); RB: Nacho (7), CB: Rudiger (7), CB: Alaba (7), LB: Camavinga (6); CM: Modric (7), CM: Tchouameni (7), CM: Kroos (7); RW: Valverde (8), ST: Rodrygo (9), LW: Vinicius Jr. (8)
Substitutes
Ceballos (6), Mariano (n/a), Arribas (7), Odriozola (n/a)