The Club World Cup semi-finals turned out to be a lot closer than most expected. A day after Gremio needed extra time to beat Pachuca, Real Madrid was 1-0 down to Al Jazira of the UAE before recovering to win 2-1.
It was a game dominated by Real Madrid but there were nervous moments before the spirit of Al Jazira was finally broken.
Second-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and from substitute Gareth Bale canceled out Al Jazira's 1-0 halftime lead.
Brazil striker Romerinho gave the home team a shock lead just four minutes before half-time. Cristiano Ronaldo equalized eight minutes into the second half.
It was Ronaldo's 52nd goal in 2017 and his 6th goal at Club World Cups. Going into the match Ronaldo was tied on five goals with top-scorer, Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Cesar Delgado.
The winning goal came with just nine minutes left from Gareth Bale who had replaced Karim Benzema just moments earlier.
The VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system was called upon during the match and a goal for each side was chalked off after further review. In case of the disallowed goal for Al Jazira, it would have put the home side up 2-0.
The use of the system process was far from seamless and there are still a number of kinks to be sorted out.
Real Madrid had 35 attempts on goal to Al Jazira's 6 and 19 corners to none for the UAE team.
Al Jazira goalkeeper Ali Khaseif stymied Real Madrid time and again and it wasn't until he was substituted on account of an injury in the 52nd minute that Real Madrid equalized.
Real Madrid
In Saturday’s final Real Madrid will try to become the first team to retain the Club World Cup. A year ago it took a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick and extra time to beat Japan’s Kashima Antlers 4-2 in Yokohama.
A win on Saturday would be the fifth trophy for Real Madrid in 2017. Between April and August of this year, Real Madrid won La Liga, the Champions League, as well as the UEFA and Spanish Super Cups.
Real is also looking to win the competition for the third time in four years and take Europe’s run of success to five consecutive titles – Bayern Munich won in 2013 and Barcelona in 2015.
It is also an opportunity for Real Madrid to match Barcelona’s three Club World Cup wins.
Real Madrid also won the Intercontinental Cup in 1960, 1998 and the then titled FIFA Club World Championship in 2002.
The Intercontinental Cup was an annual competition between the European club champions and the winner of South America’s Copa Libertadores. The competition ran between 1960 and 2004 and became infamous for a level of violence that vicious street thugs might shy away from.
Gremio
Gremio is making a first appearance in the Club World Cup although there was a 1983 win in the Intercontinental Cup against Hamburg and there was also a loss to Ajax in a penalty kick decider after a scoreless draw in 1995.
The Brazilian team earned the right to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup by beating Lanus of Argentina 3-1 on aggregate in the final of the Copa Libertadores - the premier competition for South American teams.
Gremio then beat Pachuca of Mexico 1-0 in extra time in the first FIFA Club World Cup semi-final and is now looking to become South America’s first winner since 2012 when Corinthians beat Chelsea 1-0.
Gremio’s Coach is Renato Gaucho. In managing Gremio to the Copa Libertadores Renato became the Brazilian to win the South American club championship as both a player and as a coach.
Renato played on Gremio’s 1983 Intercontinental Cup-winning team and so he has an opportunity to complete another unique double on Saturday.
However, Gremio will be missing a key player on Saturday through injury.
Arthur Henrique Ramos de Oliveira Melo (more commonly referred to as Arthur) is regarded as the new jewel in the Gremio team. He turned 21 in August and has just established himself as a Gremio regular this year.
Although he has yet to be capped by Brazil he was called up in September 2017 for two World Cup qualifying matches. He has played at the under-17 and under-20 levels for Brazil.
A diminutive playmaking midfielder Arthur has attracted interest from the big teams in Europe although Barcelona is regarded as favorite to sign him at a cost that might reach as high as $60M.
However, Barcelona did nothing to endear themselves to Gremio when Arthur was photographed wearing a Barcelona shirt and flanked by one of Barcelona’s South American scouts André Curry.
Barcelona have apologized to Grêmio for those photos of Arthur wearing Barcelona's shirt: https://t.co/JoB6E48C6O
— Paulo Freitas (@Cynegeticus) December 3, 2017
The Sponsors
Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group signed on to an 8-year sponsorship of the tournament starting in 2015. The deal granted the Chinese internet company the right of a presenting partner together with the right to present the MVP award at each match.
The Prize Money
Like all FIFA organized tournaments not called the “World Cup,” the Club World Cup fails to cover costs. It is doubtful that the revenue generated by the tournament even covers the prize money of $24M.
Champions $5 Million
Runner-ups $4 Million
Third Place team $2.5 Million
Fourth Place team $2 Million
Fifth Place team $1.5 Million
Sixth Place team $1 Million
Auckland City FC $0.5 million
Total Prize Money $24 Million
