REAL MADRID ARE THE FIRST TEAM IN HISTORY TO WIN THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP IN CONSECUTIVE SEASONS!
This is also the first time in Los Blancos' storied history that they have won 5 trophies in a calendar year! Bravo, Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and co.
90+2' Marcelo clears the ball away after a concerted spell of Gremio possession. The Brazilians put the ball out of play with a long ball, and it seems that is that.
90+1' Bale leads a counter-attack for Real Madrid down the left, before squaring the ball to Luka Modric on the edge of the box, but the Croatian sends his effort into orbit.
90' Gremio have a long spell of possession, with ends when Cortez swings a cross from the left out of play. Typical of a side that hasn't had a single shot on target.
88' Real Madrid have the ball in the middle of the park, and are passing it around with ease, before Marcelo decides to try a foray forward. It comes to nothing, with Gremio launching the ball at Jael, only for Ramos to clear the ball, not before leaping out of a dangerous tackle by the substitute.
With El Clasico on the horizon, the Real Madrid captain does not look happy...
85' So close! Maicon's first attempt at influencing the game goes awry, as his through ball to Cortez making an excellent run into the box is overhit, and Navas collects the ball.
83' OH MY GOD! Gareth Bale with a stunning effort! The Welshman cuts inside from the left wing to get past his marker and shoots with the outside of his left foot! The swerving effort looks destined for the net, only for Grohe to make a fingertip save!
82' SAVE! Ronaldo finds a yard down the right channel in the box and hammers a low drive across goal, only for Grohe to make an excellent diving save. Will this prove to be crucial?
81' CHANCE! Ronaldo bursts down the right channel, and unselfishly squares the ball to Kroos on the edge of the box, but the German is uncharacteristically wayward with his effort, as it flies well over the bar.
78' Edilson goes down under a challenge from Marcelo as the free-kick releases the pressure on Gremio. Meanwhile, Gareth Bale has stripped off and is ready to come on.
76' Should have done better! Modric finds Kroos running into the left channel with a clever turn and through pass, and the German lays the ball off to Benzema on the edge of the box. The Frenchman's shot takes a deflection and loops into the grateful arms of Grohe, but he really ought to have done better with his left foot there.
74' Poor from Vazquez. Ronaldo finds him in space on the right wing - with time on the ball, Lucas screws up his low cross to Benzema in the middle of the box, with his underhit pass easily cleared by Kannemann.
73' Isco is coming off to be replaced by Lucas Vazquez. Surely Casemiro ought to be protected for El Clasico? A dilemma for Zidane, as his side only lead by a single goal.
70' Almost! Luan spreads the ball to Ramiro bursting into the right channel, and his first-time chip aimed at Fernandinho in space in the box is overhit, and the chance is wasted.
Here's another mind-blowing stat for this year's Ballon d'Or winner...
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his 53rd goal for club & country in 2017, equalling the totals of Robert Lewandowski & Lionel Messi for most goals scored in this calendar year.
66' Solid keeping from Keylor Navas as he is alert to cut out Bruno Cortez' low cross from the left wing. The Costa Rican has had a quiet night so far, and it seems as though it may continue.
65' OFF THE POST! Luka Modric receives the ball in the middle of the park, runs a couple of yards and hammers a stunning low drive that looks destined for the bottom left corner, only for Grohe to tip the ball onto the post with a fingertip save!
Meanwhile, the stat boffins have let me know that Cristiano Ronaldo has now tied Pele as the ALL-TIME top goal scorer in the HISTORY of the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, with 7 goals.
60' SHOT! Casemiro unleashes the hammer of Thor, or whatever the Brazilian version of the Norse God is, with a piledriver that stings the palms of Grohe. Just as well, it wasn't aimed at the keeper's head.
59' OOOH! An audacious effort from Ronaldo, as Modric and Benzema scramble to get the ball to him in the middle of the box from the right byline. The Portuguese star attempts a backheel, but it takes a deflection and trickles out for a corner.
Cristiano Ronaldo hammers a wonderful volley past Grohe, but before he can celebrate the ref rules the goal out for offside. Replays show it was a correct decision, as Benzema was offside from Marcelo's lofted pass forward, before he headed the ball back to Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the FIRST player in HISTORY to score in 2 different FIFA Club World Cup finals.
What a legend!
Gremio have it all to do now, and Grohe is sure to be asking questions of his free-kick wall, who simply disintegrated as Ronaldo spotted the gap in the middle.
53' WHO ELSE BUT CRISTIANO RONALDO! The Portuguese star hammers a swerving effort that goes through Gremio's wall from a free kick, bouncing into the bottom corner past a despairing Grohe.
52' Was that a penalty? Ramiro screams for a foul as Ramos slides into the winger as he crossed the ball, making plenty of contact in the box, but the ball had already left Ramiro's boot. Seems like the correct call from the ref to award nothing.
51' WHAT A SHOT! Ronaldo receives the ball in the middle of the park, and after a quick burst of pace to burst away from three closing defenders, hammers the ball wide of the post with his left foot.
49' Fantastic play from Dani Carvajal, as he chases a lost cause down the right wing, before shielding the ball out for a corner off Fernandinho. Modric undoes all of that good work, with yet another disappointing set-piece delivery.
48' CLOSE! Kroos swings in the free kick from the left touchline, with Varana unable to jump high enough to connect, and Ramos missing the ball as well. Gremio breathe a sigh of relief.
47' Geromel with another sliding interception to begin the half, although this time he gets it right and prevents Marcelo's pass from getting to Benzema. It all goes to waste, however, as Ramiro concedes a free-kick soon after.
42' BRILLIANT! Modric slaloms past 3 players before making his way to the right, and sending in a peach of a floated cross. His delivery is inches away from connecting with Ronaldo, and Geromel scrambles the ball clear, with Ramiro having to slide in to deny Marcelo from getting off a shot in the box.
38' WHAT A CHANCE! The ball breaks to Ronaldo in the box, and he brilliantly turns away from Geromel and seems to have the goal at his mercy, only for Kanneman to slide in at the last moment to deny him!
37' ALMOST! Isco sells Ramiro a clever dummy and finds Marcelo on the left side of the box. The Brazilian ignores Ronaldo and Benzema, lofting a ball to Carvajal at the far post, but the defenders shot is wayward and not on target!
35' Superb defending from Geromel yet again, as the Gremio captain pokes the ball away off Benzema's toes to prevent him from getting into a dangerous position. It's no wonder Tite has already capped the defender with Brazil!
33' WELL WELL! Ramiro bursts down the right for Gremio, and with Barrios all alone in the middle, lofts a cross to the far post, where Fernandinho was lurking. However, Dani Carvajal jumps high to put the ball out for a corner.
32' Bruno Cortez screams for a free kick down the left wing as he is shrugged off the ball by Varane, but the ref isn't having any of it. Moments later, after a piece of wonderful skill by Marcelo, Madrid lead a counter, only for Ronaldo to give the ball away with a no-look pass.
30' Edilson gives away a free kick in a promising position on the left with a foolish foul on Ronaldo. Isco then returns the favour, as the ball from the set-piece is cleared and he needlessly shoves over Luan.
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