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Club World Cup opportunity gives Madrid respite from domestic woes

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BNN Correspondents
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Club World Cup opportunity gives Madrid respite from domestic woes

After falling eight points behind rival Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday, Real Madrid will travel to Morocco in search of their fifth Club World Cup trophy. The trip will serve as a welcome diversion from crisis talk.

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Carlo Ancelotti's team lost 1-0 to Real Mallorca in a disappointing match that hurt their chances of retaining the Spanish league title, but they still have this week to win their second trophy of the year.

Madrid won the European Super Cup in August by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany, but the loss to rival Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in January cost them the trophy.

On Wednesday, the second semifinal will feature the record-tying four-time Club World Cup champions taking on Al Ahly of Egypt, the runners-up in the African Champions League.

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Last season, Real Madrid won the La Liga and Champions League double, but they haven't been able to replicate that success this year.

The current Ballon d'Or winner, Karim Benzema of France, has been plagued by injuries and is questionable for the semi-final, along with numerous other team members.

Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper, is the most recent. He was unable to play against Al Ahly due to a thigh injury, but he still has a slim chance of returning for a potential final on Saturday.

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"It's Real Madrid and we always come back," said Lunin.

"We've got the Club World Cup coming up and we have to be ready for it.

"We can't spend too much time thinking about defeat. We have to study our mistakes and move on."

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