Real Madrid cruise past Pachuca to lift Intercontinental Cup

Real Madrid secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca to win the Intercontinental Cup at Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Wednesday.

The Spanish giants were never troubled, controlling the game from start to finish despite brief moments of threat from their opponents.

Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Junior were on the scoresheet for Real Madrid, with the victory marking a historic achievement for manager Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian coach, who had been named FIFA Men's Coach of the Year just a day earlier, surpassed Miguel Munoz’s record to become the most decorated coach in the club's history, now with 15 titles.

The match started with a bit of hesitation from Real Madrid, but they found their rhythm midway through the first half. In the 37th minute, a slick team move saw Jude Bellingham pass to Vinicius Junior, who skilfully rounded the goalkeeper and set up Mbappe for a simple tap-in.

Rodrygo doubled the lead early in the second half with a brilliant individual effort. Beating two defenders, the Brazilian winger cut inside and curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute.

Pachuca, who had reached the final by defeating CAF Champions League holders Al Ahly, rarely threatened, with Real’s defence remaining resolute.

In the 83rd minute, Vinicius Junior capped the win by converting a penalty after Oussama Idrissi fouled Lucas Vazquez in the box, sealing a comfortable triumph for the European champions.

The victory marks Madrid's second trophy of the season, following their UEFA Super Cup win in August. Ancelotti admitted that his team had struggled early in the season but expressed optimism for the future. "We didn't get off to a good start but finished well, showing great attitude," he said.

Real Madrid’s success in this competition adds to their impressive global trophy tally. The club has now won a combined total of nine global titles, including three Intercontinental Cups and five Club World Cups.

This was the inaugural edition of the Intercontinental Cup, now expanding to feature the winners of six continental competitions, and is set to replace the traditional Club World Cup, which will now be played every four years starting in 2025.

Madrid’s next match will be a La Liga encounter against Sevilla before they return to the Middle East in January for the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.