Madrid, January 30 (BNA): The Club World Cup has become the cherry on the cake for Real Madrid after winning the UEFA Champions League. The Spanish powerhouse is looking for a record eighth title at the tournament that kicks off this week in Morocco, the Associated Press reports.
Real Madrid have succeeded in the last five times they have fought for the Club World Title, after their victories in the European Champions League. He did it in 2014 and 2016-18 in the FIFA Club World Cup, and also in 2002 in what was called the Intercontinental Cup, a final between European and South American champions.
The last time Real Madrid failed to win the world title was in 2000 when it lost the Intercontinental Cup to Argentine Boca Juniors. Real Madrid won the Club World Cup the last time it was held in Morocco in 2014. Playing in the neighboring country makes the journey shorter for the Spanish club than when the competition was held in the Middle East.
Real Madrid will make their debut just next week, and their opponent could be Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders, CONCACAF champions and first American team to qualify for the Club World Cup.
The Sounders will initially play either Al-Ahly of Egypt or New Zealand’s Auckland City, who will meet in the previous round.
The final match will be held on February 11, and the most likely rival for Real Madrid will be the Brazilian club Flamengo, the champion of the Copa Libertadores in South America.
Real Madrid are not expected to travel to Morocco until shortly before their debut as they still have two La Liga matches left, at home against Valencia on Thursday and in Mallorca on Sunday.
Real Madrid got off to a good start to the season, winning 14 of their first 16 matches, without any losses, but they haven’t been at their best lately. They have won just two of their last seven matches in a spell that included defeat by arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
Real Madrid emerge from a goalless draw at home against Real Sociedad in the Spanish League on Sunday, a result that left the defending champions five points behind leaders Barcelona. It was the first time this season that the team had gone 0-0 in all competitions.
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