Real Madrid is set to face Mexican club Pachuca in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday. The tournament, played in a new format after FIFA expanded the Club World Cup for 2025, features champions from all six federations. As European champions, Real Madrid advanced straight to the final, while Pachuca reached this stage by defeating Al-Ahly 6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw.
Since suffering a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League, Real Madrid has bounced back, winning three and drawing one in their last five matches across all competitions. The Spanish champions currently sit third in La Liga, with 37 points from 17 matches—just one point fewer than leaders Barcelona, who have played one game more.
In a boost for the team, Kylian Mbappé has resumed training with the squad after missing a La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. The French star was substituted after scoring in Real’s 3-2 win at Atalanta in the Champions League last week due to injury. However, coach Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic about Mbappé’s chances of being available for the match against Pachuca.
“Kylian Mbappé’s situation is simple: he trained yesterday and felt good. He did sprints, and everything went well,” Ancelotti said. “Today’s training session will be important for evaluating his condition. If he feels fine after speaking with him and the doctors, he’ll obviously play. But if there’s even the slightest risk, he won’t. So, today’s training session is crucial. Yesterday was very good, so we are optimistic.”
The upcoming final promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams eager to claim the prestigious trophy. Football fans around the world will be watching closely to see if Real Madrid can add another international title to their illustrious history or if Pachuca will make their own mark on the global stage.
Reference(s):
Real Madrid gear up for Intercontinental Cup Final against Pachuca
cgtn.com
