'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Real Madrid advanced to the finals of the Club World Cup as they defeated the Japanese side Kashima Antlers convincingly at the Zayed City Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Real Madrid has been in fine form since the appointment of Santiago Solari, winning 9 of the 11 games.
He fielded a very strong lineup, with just one change from the win over Vallecano, as Gareth Bale came in for Marco Asensio. The Welshman was superb on the night as he grabbed a stunning hat-trick.
The game started off brightly for the minnows who almost scored from the first corner. The first 10 minutes were filled with sloppy movements from Real Madrid, but Kashima failed to take advantage. As the game progressed, Los Blancos came into life, with Gareth Bale and Lucas Vasquez making several charges down the flanks.
Gareth Bale scored the crucial opener right at the brink of halftime. Real started the second half with great intensity, with Karim Benzema having a shot cleared off the line by Yamamoto.
The defender went from hero to zero as he misplaced a horrible back pass. Gareth Bale latched onto his error, striking a right foot effort into the bottom left corner for his second goal of the night at the 50th minute. Bale got his third a few minutes later, with another assist from Marcelo. Here are the talking points from the game.
#1 Marcos Llorente's growing influence
Marcos Llorente put in a solid showing at the base of Real's midfield for the 7th game in a row, intercepting several moves before they became threats and driving forward with purpose, finding teammates in dangerous areas. He grows in confidence with each showing, stamping more and more of his class at the bottom of Real's midfield 3, a role previously occupied solely by Brazilian Casemiro.
The Brazilian has returned to full fitness but will face a tough challenge in trying to displace Llorente, who has hardly put a foot wrong since taking over after the Selecao enforcer.
#2 Luka Modric's legs could use some rest
Luka Modric won the Ballon d'Or, pipping Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo and several others to the coveted award. The 33-year-old had a superb campaign with his club, lifting the Champions League for the third year in a row and winning the Club World Cup. His contributions were vital in his nation reaching the final of the World Cup against France, where they ultimately lost, but his performances shot him to prominence on a truly global level.
Since achieving that peak, he has looked a shadow of his former self, and tonight was another case of him trying too hard with too little in the tank. With father time getting to him, he could use a better rotation scheme from Solari, as starting every game and finishing it too is something Luka can do, but after a physically and mentally draining World Cup Campaign, he hasn't really been afforded a lot of rest by his club.
#3 Marcelo is the best attacking fullback on the planet
Marcelo put in a brilliant showing down the left flank for Real Madrid, at least in the attacking sense, bombing down the entire left-hand side of the pitch, causing huge problems for the former J-League Champions. He produced several brilliant touches and passes, 2 of which were put away superbly by Gareth Bale, who really seemed to be on the same wavelength with Marcelo in a way similar to a certain departed superstar used to be.
Marcelo's strong showing was a stark reminder to anyone who needed one, of his brilliant attacking abilities, as the #12 oozed class for the entirety of the 90 minutes. The Brazilian was the one who kept Serginho onside, which lead to the visitors' solitary goal, but he got caught out because of his attacking foray moments earlier, which almost resulted in a goal itself.
#4 Gareth Bale grabbed a stunning hat-trick
Gareth Bale looked the best version of himself, bombing down the left flank, drifting into dangerous spaces, always looking to score or create a goal for his team. Granted, it was against a far inferior level of opposition than what he usually faces(no disrespect to Kashima Antlers), but his movement, vision, and anticipation were at the best level we have seen all season.
Gareth scored a hattrick, and whilst we can't realistically expect him to keep up this feat in coming fixtures, he must keep up the intensity of his performance tonight for the rest of the season, as the club and it's fans are desperately looking for someone to lead them from the front after the departure of Ronaldo to Juventus in the summer. Tonight's performance showed us what he is capable of doing, now he's got to keep this up.
