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2 months ago
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This time, Kylian Mbappé was smiling as he left Lusail Stadium. Two years after its incredible hat-trick in the World Cup final and the Blues’ defeat on penalties against Argentina, Real Madrid won the Intercontinental Cup in the Qatari arena (3-0). An expected success given the opponent – the Mexicans of Pachuca – which allowed the French striker to confirm the recovery observed before his small hamstring injury.
The former Parisian scored again on the pitch at Lusail Stadium, becoming the fourth Frenchman to score a goal in the Intercontinental Cup after Nestor Combin, Michel Platini and Jean-Pierre Papin. And as against Atalanta Bergamo in the Champions League seven days earlier, he launched his team on the path to success by opening the score in the 37the minute. But this time, Kylian Mbappé just had to push the ball into the empty goal, with Vinicius doing all the work with a devastating dribble.
Kylian Mbappé at the forefront, the corridor for Vinicius
This meeting against Pachuca also showed that Carlo Ancelotti returned to his first idea. As at the start of the season, Kylian Mbappé was indeed aligned at the forefront of the Madrid attack and had to leave the left side to Vinicius. Before his injury, the Bondynois, lacking confidence, had been lined up several times in the left lane, and not only because of the Brazilian’s unavailability.
Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius nevertheless swapped several times during the meeting and the weakness of the opponent also allowed Jude Bellingham to play high, in support of the Frenchman, who did not hesitate to pick up to touch the ball outside the surface. Replaced shortly after the hour mark, the French world champion will face a new test this weekend against Sevilla FC.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
