A few days before heading to Morocco for the Club World Cup, Real Madrid presented a strong performance against Valencia in La Liga, winning 2-0 in a match that showcased several benefits ahead of their upcoming participation in the tournament. Real Madrid is set to face Egyptian club Al Ahly or American club Seattle Sounders next Wednesday in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, looking for their fourth title in this tournament organized annually by FIFA.
**Gains for Real Madrid**
French international Aurélien Tchouaméni returned to Real Madrid’s squad after injury, starting the match on the bench before being introduced by his coach, Carlo Ancelotti, in the 66th minute. This return can bolster the team's lineup in the Club World Cup.
Real Madrid managed to reduce the gap between them and Barcelona to 5 points, down from 8 before the postponed match of round 17, easing the pressure of the title race in La Liga before heading to Morocco after their match against Mallorca next Sunday.
Brazilian Vinícius Júnior continued his impressive performance with Real Madrid, coinciding with Karim Benzema's scoring drought, enhancing the attacking strength of Los Blancos before entering the World Cup competition.
**Notable Performance**
Real Madrid maintained their unbeaten record against Valencia for the 15th consecutive match at their home ground, confirming their dominance over the "Bats." The team kept a clean sheet with the defensive quartet successfully supporting their teammates in protecting Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois from opposition goals, restoring the team's impressive defensive balance.
Ancelotti reinstated the attacking trio of Karim Benzema, Vinícius Júnior, and Marco Asensio at the start of the match, with Asensio and Vinícius scoring the goals for Real Madrid during the game. The harmony displayed by Real Madrid's key players and substitutes who participated in the second half sent a reassuring message to the Italian coach and the Spanish team's fans at the beginning of February, which is packed with consecutive matches across various competitions and different countries.
**Busy Schedule**
Real Madrid packs its bags for Morocco ahead of the Club World Cup after facing Real Mallorca next Sunday at the Iberostar Stadium, with their first match in the World Cup scheduled for February 8. If Real Madrid wins against Al Ahly or Seattle, they will play in the Club World Cup final on February 11, before quickly returning to Spain to face Elche in La Liga at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on the 15th of the same month.
The team will then play against Osasuna away on February 18, followed by a trip to England to face Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League on the 21st of the month.
Real Madrid concludes their busy February with another derby against Atlético Madrid in La Liga on the 26th, before kicking off March with El Clásico on the second day against Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
