Real Madrid clinches their first ever FIFA Club World cup

Real Madrid marched on and entered a 22-game winning streak after trampling  San Lorenzo on Saturday evening to win the Club World Cup, their fourth trophy of 2014.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti put out his best possible starting line-up, which featured the returns of Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez, who had both been suffering from injury prior to the match.

Immediately after the opening whistle blew, San Lorenzo came out as the aggressors, keeping Real Madrid honest with several hard challenges and trying to disrupt their rhythm.

San Lorenzo’s strategy worked perfectly as their aggressive challenges and antics seems to distract Real Madrid and disrupt their rhythm, preventing them from exploiting their deadly counter attack.

However, it’s hard to keep the most in-form team in the world down for long and at the 36th minute, a Kroos cross found Sergio Ramos, who headed in the opening goal.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Real Madrid, as starting left-back Marcelo would be forced to leave the match just before halftime due to injury, being replaced by Fabio Coentrao.

Real Madrid went into the half with the lead, but San Lorenzo refused to give up, continuing their aggressive approach in the second half.

Yet, Real Madrid would solidify their lead when a mistimed clearance by Torrico found Cristiano, who passed to Bale for the insurance goal. San Lorenzo continued to fight and even worked their way into Real Madrid’s half, giving Iker Casillas some action in what was his 700th match with Real Madrid.

Things progressively got dirtier as time wore on with San Lorenzo pulling out all the steps leaving Cristiano and Benzema, with a ripped shirt, to call for the referee to card the Argentine players.

Buffarinni came up with a brilliant attempt with five minutes remaining, forcing Casillas to dive to make the stop, and begging the question why they San Lorenzo waited so long to turn up the heat.

With the exit of Sergio Ramos in the 88th minute, Real Madrid capped off a brilliant 2014, winning the Copa del Rey, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the title which they’ve never won in the club’s history; the Club World Cup.

Real Madrid 2-0 San Lorenzo

Referee: Walter López (Guatemala)

Real Madrid XI: Casillas; Carvajal (74′), Ramos (88′), Pepe, Marcelo (44′); Kroos, James, Isco; Bale, Cristiano, Benzema

Goals: Ramos (36′), Bale (51′)

San Lorenzo XI: Torrico, Buffarinni, Kanneman, Yepes (62′), Mas, Mercier, Verón (58′), Kalinski, Ortigoza, Barrientos, Cauteruccio (69′)