Real Madrid win Club World Cup for a third year in a row with dominant Al Ain victory
REAL MADRID won the Club World Cup for a third year in a row - and fourth time in five years - thanks to goals from Luka Modric, Marcos Llorente and Sergio Ramos.
On the back of a Gareth Bale hat-trick in the semi-final crushing of Kashima Antlers, Los Blancos were going for a famous hat-trick of title wins.
And Modric got Real off to an absolute flyer after just 14 minutes of the final in Abu Dhabi.
The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner broke clear with the ball before rifling a precise strike in the bottom corner.
However, Al Ain continued to work hard and kept the Galacticos waiting until the hour-mark to kill off the game.
And it was another midfielder too, as Marcos Llorente showcased some stunning technique to guide the ball into the bottom corner with a cool first-time strike.
Ramos made it 3-0 with little over ten minutes to play, as he scored in typical fashion, heading home from close-range from a corner.
Tsukasa Shiotani ensured Al Ain left with some pride, after a superb header from a free-kick reduced the deficit, before an own goal gifted Real a fourth.
The victory is great news for Real Madrid, who've struggled domestically this term, with Santiago Solari's men only fourth in La Liga, five points adrift of Barcelona.
Los Blancos now go in hunt of another Club World Cup appearance next year as they take on Ajax in the last-16 of this season's Champions League.
