As it happened: Real Madrid beat Al Ain in Fifa Club World Cup final

Proceedings start at 8.30pm at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, with the third-place play-off between River Plate and Kashima Antlers starting the day's action at 5.30pm

Real Madrid fans before the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain fans before the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain fans get set for a landmark moment in UAE sporting history. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain fans before the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain fans before the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain fans before the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Luca Modric of Real Madrid scores during the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Luca Modric of Real Madrid scores during the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Luca Modric of Real Madrid scores during the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Madrid president. Fiorentino Perez (R) and FIFA president Gianni Infantino before the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ismail Ahmed (2nd L) capt of Al Ain and Sergio Ramos capt of Real Madrid (2nd R) before the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Ain have a huddle before the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Toni Kroos of Real Madrid smiles as he is tackled during the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Toni Kroos of Real Madrid competes with Tongo Doumbia of Al Ain during the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Gareth Bale of Real Madrid competes with Ismail Ahmed of Al Ain during the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 22, 2018: Al Ain fans before the match between Real Madrid and Al Ain at the Fifa Club World Cup final. Saturday the 22nd of December 2018 at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

10.47pm: World Champions!!

The moment Real Madrid lifted the Club World Cup trophy...

10.30pm: Deserved praise for Al Ain

Congratulations to Real Madrid: worthy champions for a third successive year. But no team has brought more excitement or drama to the tournament than host club Al Ain. They fought back from 3-0 down in their play-off against Team Wellington, they crushed African champions Esperance de Tunis in the quarter-finals, then stunned South America's finest, River Plate, in the semi-finals.

As such, Al Ain deserve all the praise heading their way.

10.25pm: Real Madrid create Club World Cup history

Real Madrid are now the most successful team in Club World Cup history - becoming the first side to win three titles in a row. They also stand alone on four titles overall.

The National's Paul Radley is at Zayed Sports City Stadium. Here is his on the whistle report.

Sergio Ramos scored Real Madrid's third goal. Reuters

10.19pm: GOAL! Real Madrid 4 Al Ain 1

Real Madrid restore their three-goal lead as Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior forces an own goal.

10.13pm: GOAL! Real Madrid 3 Al Ain 1

The UAE champions pull back a consolation goal with four minutes remaining, Tsukasa Shiotani with the finish.

10.06pm: GOAL! Real Madrid 3 Al Ain 0

Real Madrid's domination is rewarded with another goal as captain Sergio Ramos rises to head home from a corner in the 78th minute. Game over, now, and it's just a matter of time before Real collect their third successive Club World Cup title.

Sergio Ramos rises to head home Real Madrid's third goal. EPA

9.55pm: Current Al Ain mood...

9.47pm: GOAL! Real Madrid 2 Al Ain 0

Another stunning goal from the European champions, this time Marcos Llorente firing home a low half volley on the hour. Al Ain will need to produce something remarkable from here.

Marcos Llorente scores Real Madrid's second goal. Reuters

9.17pm: Al Ain still well in the match

Half-time here at Zayed Sports City Stadium, and Al Ain are still well in the match. As expected, Madrid are dominant and thus deservedly 1-0 up, with host goalkeeper Khalid Essa doing his best to seal that player of the tournament award. Al Ain need to get Marcus Berg and Caio into the game more. Worth remembering this represents the UAE champions' sixth match in 19 days. Big ask for next 45 minutes. John McAuley

8.44pm: GOAL! Real Madrid 1 Al Ain 0

Moments after nearly conceding, Real Madrid go up the other end and score. A fine, curling finish from Luka Modric in the 14th minute.

Luka Modric scores Real Madrid's opening goal against Al Ain. Reuters

8.15pm: Mission Possible?

With just 15 minutes until kick-off, now is the ideal chance to read John McAuley's piece on Al Ain and their dream of shocking the world.

Chris Whiteoak / The National

7.45pm: Team news for the final

Al Ain make only one change to the side that defeated River Plate in the semi-final, with Rayan Yaslem coming in for Ahmed Barman.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid have gone with their big guns again, with Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema all starting. Isco and Casemiro take their place on the bench.

7.24pm: Full-time - River Plate finish third

After the disappointment of losing in the semi-final, River Plate depart Abu Dhabi on a positive note thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Kashima Antlers. Bruno Zuculini broke the deadlock with a towering header, before Gonzalo Martinez doubled River's lead. Rafael Borre's penalty made it 3-0, and the rout was completed deep in injury time when Martinez grabbed his second. A fine performance from the South American champions.

Gonzalo Martinez celebrates after scoring his first goal during River Plate's win over Kashima Antlers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

7.22pm: GOAL! River Plate 4 Kashima Antlers 0

Gonzalo Martinez has his second and what a goal it was! Martinez fired home from the edge of the area into the top corner. It is officially a rout now.

7.15pm: GOAL! River Plate 3 Kashima Antlers 0

Rafael Borre slots home from the penalty spot in the 88th minute to ensure victory for the South American champions.

7pm: GOAL! River Plate 2 Kashima Antlers 0

River double their lead on 73 minutes through Gonzalo Martinez. That should be job done now for the Argentines.

6.50pm: Tifo boys en route...

Al Ain's tifos have been one of the star attractions of the tournament, and we can't wait to see what they have in store for the final.

John McAuley / The National

6.20pm: River Plate lead at the break

Bruno Zuculini's 24th minute header separates the two teams at half-time. River Plate 45 minutes away from victory.

Bruno Zuculini heads in River Plate's opening goal against Kashima Antlers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

5.56pm: GOAL! River Plate 1 Kashima Antlers 0

Bruno Zuculini scores in the 24th minute to hand the Copa Libertadores champions the lead at Zayed Sports City Stadium.

Bruno Zuculini celebrates after opening the scoring for River Plate against Kashima Antlers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

5pm: Third-place play-off teams announced

Before the big one at 8.30pm, River Plate and Kashima Antlers do battle for the bronze medal at 5.30pm. Here are the teams...

4.50pm: How they got here

Al Ain booked their place in the Club World Cup final with a remarkable penalty shootout win over Argentina's River Plate, before Gareth Bale's hat-trick led Real Madrid past Kashima Antlers in their semi-final.

Here's how both clubs got to the final:

4.20pm: Eyes on the prize

3.35pm: The difference makers

Who will be the Club World Cup final hero(es)? John McAuley picks five players each from Al Ain and Real Madrid who could prove the difference-makers. Scroll through the photo gallery below by clicking on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

Khalid Essa (Al Ain) What a tournament thus far for the Al Ain goalkeeper. Essa was brilliant in the shootout in the opener against Team Wellington, saving twice to save the hosts’ blushes, then again in the incredible semi-final victory against River Plate. Palmed away River’s final penalty, after making a host of fine stops during normal time, to seal a place in the showpiece. Has two man-of-the-match gongs. However, more heroics most likely needed. Reuters

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) His hat-trick in the semi-final against Kashima Antlers a reminder of just how good the Welshman can be when on form. Often steps up on the big occasion, having scored goals in two Uefa Champions League final and a stunning goal in the 2014 Copa del Rey final. Keeping him quiet will be one of the biggest challenges for Al Ain. AP Photo

Caio (Al Ain) Disappointed that his impressive displays had not yet yielded a goal for himself, the Brazilian duly delivered against River Plate. Caio struck the equaliser not long into the second half, a brilliant solo effort that pushed the game to extra-time and penalties. He then scored first in the shootout. The winger’s performances have been electric, and his pace and trickery should cause Madrid’s backline problems. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) A controversial figure in the Real backline. But behind the clashes with opponents and willingness to rile up rival fans he marshals the La Liga side's defence well. Is also a threat at set-pieces going forward so Al Ain will have to be wary of the Real captain at both ends of the pitch. AFP

Hussein El Shahat (Al Ain) Typically operating on the opposite flank to Caio, the Egyptian winger has been one of the standouts this month. El Shahat found the net in the quarter-final against Esperance de Tunis, winning man of the match, and was unlucky to have a goal ruled out against River. Again, allies real speed with a willingness to take on opponents. Key to Al Ain’s attacking thrust. (Reuters)

Marcelo (Real Madrid) Covers so much ground on the left flank for Real and despite his main responsibility being in defence is a real attacking asset. Al Ain will have to be wary of his foraging runs forward at Zayed Sports City. AP Photo

Tongo Doumbia (Al Ain) It’s been some introduction to competitive football at Al Ain. The Malian midfielder has been with the club since October, but registration issues meant he had not played a match until the tournament. Scored on debut against Wellington, and has generally been an immense presence in the middle. Powerful and energetic, Doumbia will have his work cut out again, most probably in direct combat with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Ouch. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Luka Modric (Real Madrid) Has the chance to end an exceptional year that has him win the Champions League with his club side, help Croatia to a first ever World Cup final and then won the Ballon d'Or in December, being the first person to be awarded it not called Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi since 2007. Will look to pull Al Ain apart from centre of the park with his incisive passing. AFP

Tsukasa Shiotani (Al Ain) Al Ain’s Mr Dependable. The Japanese midfielder-cum-defender has been superb all tournament for the UAE champions, although that shouldn’t surprise. Stationed at left-back, Shiotani is solid defensively while still offering in attack: his goal sparked the comeback against Wellington, while he assisted Caio for the leveller in the semi-final. Tireless, tenacious and technically excellent. His biggest test to date, though, comes on Saturday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) The Belgian signed from Chelsea in the summer and this is his chance for his first silverware with the La Liga side. An imposing figure in the Real goal, he is in good form and he will be aware he may need to step up and be the hero if Al Ain can force a third penalty shootout in their four games at the tournament. Reuters

3pm History will be made

So, here we are. Ten days after the 2018 Fifa Club World Cup began we are down to the final, and what a tournament decider it will be.

European champions Real Madrid, bidding for a record fourth title in the competition and third in a row, take on Al Ain, representing the host nation, who have shown tremendous spirit in their run to the final.

No side from outside Europe or Brazil has ever won the Club World Cup so Al Ain would be creating history if Zoran Mamic's side can prevail.

The final, at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, starts at 8.30pm. If the sides finish level then there will be 30 minutes of extra time, and then penalties.

Before that there is the third-place play-off at 5.30pm with Argentina's River Plate taking on Japanese side Kashima Antlers.

Stick with us on this blog for all the build-up, news, and match action from Abu Dhabi!

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