The 2015 Club World Cup final pitted River Plate against Barcelona in Japan.
The Spanish giants, who were seeking their third win at this showpiece event, led 1-0 at the interval of a feisty match courtesy of a close-range finish from Lionel Messi.
Luis Suarez then scored his fourth goal of the competition early in the second half for 2-0, before the Uruguay international added another to put the game to bed in the 68th minute.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Morning all! Welcome to a cold Japan. We have quite a big game to bring you this morning as Barcelona and River Plate meet in the final of the Club World Cup. This particular competition has its critics, but the winner will be able to call themselves the best club team on the planet. Barcelona are the big favourites to claim the trophy, but River will be confident of springing a surprise here.
We have little under 30 minutes until kickoff in Yokohama, so without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the team news. Have Lionel Messi and Neymar made it for Barcelona...
TEAMS:
RIVER: Barovero; Mercado, Maidana, Balanta, Vangioni; Kranevitter, Ponzio, Sanchez, Viudez; Mora, Alario
BARCA: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Starting with River, there are no real surprises in the line-up for the Argentine outfit. Lucas Alario, who scored in the semi-final, once again starts in the final third with Rodrigo Mora, while there is a spot at centre-back for big Colombian Eder Alvarez Balanta. It will also be a farewell match for Argentine midfielder Matias Kranevitter, who has already agreed to join-up with Atletico Madrid in January.
As for Barcelona, a certain Lionel Messi and Neymar return to the XI. Messi missed the semi-final with renal colic, while Neymar has been nursing a leg problem. Both return to the final third alongside Luis Suarez, with Sergi Roberto and Munir El-Haddadi the two players to make way from the semi-final. Interestingly, it is once again Claudio Bravo between the sticks ahead of the German Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
River, who qualified for the tournament by winning the 2015 Copa Libertadores, were the first team to book their spot in the final of the Club World Cup after beating Sanfrecce Hiroshama in the semi-finals on Wednesday. It was far from straight-forward for the Argentine side, but they managed to advance courtesy of a 1-0 win, with Argentine attacker Lucas Alario netting 20 minutes from time.
It is the first time in 19 years that River have made the final of this competition and they indeed picked up the trophy on their debut in 1986. They were beaten in the 1996 final by Juventus, however, and have not been in the final since. A large contingent of River supporters have made the journey out to Japan and the atmosphere inside the stadium is already just sensational.
As for Barcelona, they booked their spot in the final with a 3-0 win over Guangzhou Evergrande last time out. A Luis Suarez hat-trick did the damage for the Spanish giants, who were simply too strong for their Chinese opponents. Real Madrid are the current holders of this competition and Barcelona will be keen to take that trophy from their opponents. In case you missed it, these three are back together...
© AFP
As it stands, Barcelona are still top of La Liga, but they could be second by the time they return from the winter break, depending on how both Atletico Madrid get on this weekend. Real Madrid's level in the second half of last season dropped after winning the 2014 Club World Cup and Barcelona boss Luis Enrique will be keen to avoid a similar situation. We are fast approaching kickoff in Yokohama.
This is Barcelona's fourth appearance in the Club World Cup and they won the competition in 2011 with a 4-0 win over Santos. They also won it in 2009 – overcoming Argentine opposition in the shape of Estudiantes – but they were beaten in the 2006 final by Internacional. River cannot be underestimated, but Barcelona really should have more than enough to win this contest.
Todo a punto para el inicio de la final #FCBRiver #JapanFCB pic.twitter.com/B09U8vMqkN
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) December 20, 2015
PREDICTION! Just about time for my pre-match prediction here. River will provide tough opposition, but I just have to side with Barcelona. The return of both Neymar and Messi is massive and with Suarez in such fine form also, I am backing the Spanish giants to claim the trophy with a 3-1 win.
KICKOFF! It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium. The River supporters are in fine voice, while there are plenty of Barcelona shirts in the crowd. It is a beautiful setting for the Club World Cup final and it is River that get the first 45 minutes of this contest underway in Yokohama...
... as expected, Barcelona have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes, with Alba and Neymar already looking dangerous down the left. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - will be vital in terms of the final result. Messi is hacked down by Kranevitter!
I might be a broken record when it comes to this, but the noise inside the stadium is absolutely stunning. The River supporters are in fine voice and their team manage to gain a corner when Sanchez has a cross deflected wide of the goal by Mascherano. Confident start from the Argentine side.
Iniesta, whose new hair-cut has started to edge out, takes a nasty challenge from Ponzio as River continue to put down a marker here. There have been some fierce challenges in the early moments!
Pique is forced to turn over his own crossbar with a header following another break from River, with Mora delivering a cross towards his strike partner Alario. River are looking very dangerous here.
Barcelona so often take control of games in the early moments, but River have been at full-throttle in the opening 10 minutes - hassling and harrying the Spanish giants whenever possible. It remains to be seen whether they can maintain this intensity, but it is excellent to watch at the moment.
BOOKING! Kranevitter (River) hacks Messi to the ground and is booked.
SAVE! Easily the best chance of the match thus far as Iniesta has the awareness to pick out Messi with a super pass inside a crowded box, but River goalkeeper Barovero is on hand to make a super save and Messi is across the congratulate the Argentine stopper. Nice to see that - it was some stop!
Barcelona have just started to take control of the match in the last couple of minutes, but River are dangerous when they have the chance to counter through Sanchez and Ponzio in wide positions.
BOOKING! Alba (Barcelona) is deservedly booked for flying into a challenge with Sanchez. Good grief that was a heavy tackle from the left-back. I tell you what, that could have been a red!
This game has been every bit as spicy as I thought it would. Barcelona are taking exception to a few late challenges and dishing out some of their own. The likes of Mascherano and Pique can mix it if needed! We have not seen too much from Neymar in the opening 18 minutes of this contest.
Neymar drives into the River box before feeding Messi, who looks for the return pass back into his teammate, but Maidana is on hand to make the challenge and the danger is cleared. Barcelona are in control of the possession at the moment and River's early intensity, as expected, has dropped here.
Mercado and Alba come together down the Barcelona left and the referee is quickly across to intervene. River are not exactly a team that will shirk any sign of a physical confrontation!
CHANCE! Another chance for Barcelona as Neymar delivers a super cross onto the boot of Alves, who strikes towards goal, but Barovero makes another decent stop. Super work from Neymar there!
Half-chance for River as Mora finds space outside the box, but his effort was always straight at the goalkeeper. Down the other end, Neymar comes in for some more rough treatment from Mercado, who has not been afraid to make a challenge in the opening 27 minutes of this match!
Another half-chance for River as Mercado, who is everywhere at the moment, meets a free kick from Sanchez, but his header was always rising over the crossbar. Well, little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and we are still all square in this Club World Cup final. Everything to play for in Japan!
Busquets takes a moment to recover following a heavy challenge from Viudez, but the referee does not take any further action. It is brilliant to see a feisty match - these games are a rarity now!
BOOKING! Ponzio (River) is booked for having a nibble at Alves. No Suarez pun intended.
CLOSE! Messi bends a free kick towards the bottom corner and River goalkeeper Barovero makes a bit of a meal of it, but does manage to push it wide for a corner. Almost a horror moment there!
GOAL! River 0-1 Barcelona (Messi)
Barcelona make the breakthrough in the 36th minute as Messi pokes one past Barovero from close range after a super header from Neymar. For the third Club World Cup final running, Messi has scored for Barcelona. It was a really instinctive finish from the Argentine and the Spanish side lead in Japan.
Barcelona are full of beans at the moment and have another half-chance when Suarez battles his way into the River box, but his low cross towards Neymar is cut out by the Argentine team's goalkeeper. You just get the feeling that River cannot afford to concede a second goal at this stage of the match.
Barcelona again build down the left as Suarez combines with Alba, but the latter had moved into an offside position and River manage to gain some respite. This has been a cracking first period!
BOOKING! Rakitic (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Viudez.
Alves is now down for Barcelona following a collision with Alario.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Barcelona to score a second as Messi sets up Suarez, who goes one-on-one with the River goalkeeper, but the striker fires wide of the post. What a chance!
HALF-TIME: River 0-1 Barcelona
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barcelona leading 1-0 courtesy of a 36th-minute effort from Messi, who poked home from close range after Neymar won a header at the back post. River have been full of energy, but have struggled to really test Bravo between the sticks.
STATS! Barcelona have dominated the possession with 66%, while they have had eight attempts - four of which were on target. River, meanwhile, have managed two attempts on target thus far in Japan. As expected, it has been a very feisty first period and four yellows have already been issued!
BENCH WATCH! River have a number of attacking options on their bench here, with the likes of Javier Saviola, Gonzalo Martinez and Luis Gonzalez certainly all capable of making a difference in the second period. Barcelona, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Munir, Sandro and Adriano.
RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can River find a route back into this match? It will be tough! Barcelona restart the action in Yokohama here...
... RIVER SUBS! Double change at the break - Gonzalez and Martinez are on for Ponzio and Mora.
It has been a decent start to the second period from the Argentine outfit, who already look more dangerous in the final third following that double change. Barcelona, however, will feel that a second goal would be enough to see them claim this showpiece trophy for the third time in their history.
GOAL! River 0-2 Barcelona (Suarez)
And there is the second goal! Barcelona double their lead early in the second period as Suarez advances through on goal, before squeezing one under the advancing River goalkeeper! It was a super pass from Busquets that released the striker and he found a route into the back of the net.
River are chasing shadows at the moment and it is only going to get tougher as the match progresses. Messi has another half-chance, but his low effort is straight into Barovero's arms.
It was always going to a tough ask for River to win this match and Barcelona are now in total control as they drive forward from midfield. Neymar again sets up Messi inside the box, but the Argentine's goal-bound effort is cleared by Balanta. Seems only a matter of time before a third arrives here.
Barcelona want a penalty as Neymar goes down inside the box under a firm challenge from Balanta, but the referee says that the ball was played and River escape another dangerous situation.
RIVER SUB! Driussi replaces Viudez for River.
CHANCE! Neymar sets up Messi for another golden chance, but the Argentine scoops his effort wide of the post. Barcelona are running through at will at the moment. River are falling apart!
Neymar fires over the crossbar as the utter domination from Barcelona continues.
It would not be a surprise if a red card arrived here as both sets of players clash following another late challenge on Neymar. Suarez is right in the thick of the action and Pique has to come across to calm his teammate. River are making this Club World Cup final as dirty as they can at the moment.
BOOKING! Neymar (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Mercado.
This is all getting a bit out of hand as Neymar is again chopped down by Mercado, who has been in the thick of the action all game, but has incredibly not picked up a card!
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique might well look to protect some of his star players in the final 25 minutes, with Neymar only just back from a leg problem. It would not be a surprise to see changes made in the next couple of minutes because in truth, Barcelona are really comfortable in this final.
BARCELONA SUB! Roberto replaces Rakitic for the Spanish side.
GOAL! River 0-3 Barcelona (Suarez)
It is just wonderful. Wonderful to watch. Neymar delivers a sensational cross onto the head of Suarez, who angles one into the far corner for 3-0. This attacking trio for Barcelona are just too good.
Little under 20 minutes of this final remaining and Barcelona will be winning the competition for the third time. They have been too good for River, who started well but have never really threatened to take control of the match. Barcelona... the best team on the planet? Difficult to argue against that.
BOOKING! Roberto (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Martinez.
Little over 15 minutes remaining in Japan and River do not seem to have much left in their legs, which is not that surprising. I just hope that there are not any silly challenges in the latter stages here.
Busquets chops Mercado to the ground, but the referee takes no further action. Good grief Mercado has been in the thick of this match - dished out plenty of tackles, but taken a lot as well!
SAVE! Outstanding stop from Bravo as the Barcelona goalkeeper pushes a header from Alario over the crossbar! Bravo has been a spectator for long spells, but that is a wonderful, wonderful save!
It would not be a surprise to see at least one more goal in this match as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. Suarez once again drives into the River box, but Balanta smashes the ball against the striker and it bounces into the arms of Barovero. Still 3-0 Barcelona in Japan.
BARCELONA SUB! Vermaelen replaces Mascherano for Barcelona.
Another half-chance for Alario, but under pressure from Pique, the River striker angles his header wide of the post. Alario has looked the player most likely to register for River in this match.
SAVE! More good goalkeeping from Bravo as the Chilean tips a Gonzalez effort wide of the post!
Barcelona have another penalty shout as Neymar tumbles inside the box under a challenge from Maidana, but the referee is once again not interested and Barovero is out to claim.
BARCELONA SUB! Mathieu replaces Neymar for Barcelona.
The fourth official indicates that we will play three additional minutes here.
River continue to break forward and have another shot on goal through Martinez, but his effort was straight into the arms of Bravo. Barcelona are close to being crowned winners of this tournament.
FULL-TIME: River 0-3 Barcelona
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close and Barcelona are crowned winners of the Club World Cup for a third time. In truth, the result was never in doubt. Suarez (2) and Messi scored the goals, but Neymar was also in fine form once again. The celebrations can now begin as Barcelona are officially named the best team on the planet. From Sports Mole, it is good afternoon!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
