Kylian Mbappé leads Real Madrid to Intercontinental Cup win over Pachuca
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Kylian Mbappé helped fire Real Madrid to Intercontinental Cup glory with a goal in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Pachuca at the Lusail Stadium. The 25-year-old had been a fitness worry having suffered a thigh injury during last week’s Champions League win over Atalanta. Mbappé missed Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, but was deemed fit enough to travel to Qatar.
![[Rodrygo celebrates after scoring Real Madrid’s second at Lusail Stadium.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cca4e25b8c32eeb2be9271e0a8f884978bf50a51/0_646_2775_1665/master/2775.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Mbappé scored the opener for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, taking his tally to 13 goals in 23 appearances since joining from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Jude Bellingham started a flowing move by playing in Vinícius Júnior, who went round Pachuca keeper Carlos Moreno before pulling the ball back for the France forward to score.
Mexican outfit Pachuca had defeated the Copa Libertadores champions, Brazil’s Botafogo, 3-0 and then edged past Egyptian side Al-Ahly on penalties to reach the final. They started the stronger, with Luis Rodríguez forcing a save from Thibaut Courtois before Oussama Idrissi and Alan Bautista saw chances come and go.
After Mbappé struck in the 37th minute, Real Madrid took charge with Federico Valverde firing narrowly wide and Bellingham’s header also missing the target. They got their second goal eight minutes into the second half when Rodrygo twisted and turned before hitting an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 20 yards.
Courtois was back in action to repel Bryan Gonzalez’s drive and then kept out an effort from the 35-year-old former West Brom and Everton striker, Salomón Rondón. With six minutes remaining, Real wrapped up victory when Lucas Vázquez was tripped in the area by Idrissi and Vinícius stepped up to fire home the penalty.
