Real Madrid won the Intercontinental Cup with a 3-0 victory over Mexico’s Pachuca in a mostly one-sided final on Wednesday. Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Jr were the scorers.
Real controlled the game comfortably, despite Pachuca occasionally threatening with counter-attacks at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
The Champions League winners opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a brilliant team goal. Jude Bellingham passed to Vinicius Jr, who raced past the goalkeeper and set up Mbappe to tap the ball into an empty net.
Rodrygo doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, dribbling past two defenders and curling a fine shot into the top corner with his right foot.
Vinicius Jr sealed the win with a penalty in the 83rd minute after Oussama Idrissi fouled Lucas Vazquez inside the box.
Real Madrid now have a total of nine global titles, having won three trophies in the original Intercontinental Cup and five Club World Cups.
Rodrygo spoke to Spanish television channel Telecinco, saying, “We are very happy with another title. I was a bit anxious about the goal because Jude (Bellingham) was in front of the goalkeeper, but he didn’t interfere with the play, so I’m happy to help the team.”
“Vinicius is playing really well, and we’re glad to have him with us. We have a great team and we’re delighted.”
Pachuca had some early chances through Oussama Idrissi, Luis Rodriguez, and Elias Montiel, but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved them all. Slowly, Real took control, with Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo running down the flanks and Bellingham feeding them with dangerous passes into space.
Rodrygo and Bellingham had good chances before Mbappe opened the scoring. Pachuca were lucky not to be trailing by more at half-time as Real piled on the pressure.
After Rodrygo’s second goal early in the second half, manager Carlo Ancelotti made several changes. His side missed several chances before Vazquez was awarded a penalty after a VAR review, when the referee initially missed a foul in the box.
Vinicius Jr’s penalty was low to the right, and although goalkeeper Carlos Moreno got a hand to it, he couldn’t keep it out.
