Al Ahly 1-4 Real Madrid: La Liga giants given mid-match scare as they reach Club World Cup final

Real Madrid were given a small scare in their entertaining 4-1 win against Al Ahly as they reached the final of the Club World Cup.

The current Champions League holders were 2-0 up and looking set for a simple victory, before an Al Ahly penalty saw them get back to one behind and they nearly equalised minutes later.

However, Madrid held on and scored two goals in injury-time to see off the Egyptian side. Madrid will play Al-Hilal on Saturday, after they became first ever Saudi Arabian side to reach the final of the competition.

Carlo Ancelotti fielded a strong Real Madrid starting XI, despite injuries to key players such as Karim Benzema, Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao.

Madrid started off strongly as Vinicius and Valverde imposed themselves on the flanks.

Rodrygo then had a couple of chances, before Vinicius capitalised on a defensive error and calmly dinked the ball over goalkeeper Mohammed El Shenawy to give Los Blancos the lead in the 42nd minute.

Nevertheless, Al Ahly put up a strong fight and were only a goal down at half-time.

Madrid came flying out of the blocks in the second half as Rodrygo’s parried shot fell into the path of Valverde, who calmly slotted the ball home.

The crowd inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium urged Al Ahly on and they were rewarded with a penalty as Eduardo Camavinga fouled Hussein El Shahat.

Ali Maaloul stepped up to the spot and fired the ball into the back of the net to give his side some hope.

A few minutes later Al Ahly nearly equalised when the ball was squared to Afsha inside the box, but he shot over the bar.

Madrid had the chance to restore their two-goal lead when they were given a penalty after a VAR intervention. However, Luka Modric saw his shot saved.

In the 93rd minute, some delightful team play from Madrid finally gave them a third goal as Rodrygo found the back of the net. Five minutes later, substitute Sergio Arribas added a fourth after a great ball from Camavinga.