River Plate 0 - 3 Barcelona

29.05.2020 07:45

Barcelona won their fifth trophy of 2015 after clinching the Fifa Club World Cup for a third time with a comprehensive victory over River Plate.

River could not cope with Barca's Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Messi scored the opener after returning from a kidney problem when he controlled Neymar's pass to finish.

Suarez latched onto Sergio Busquets' brilliant ball over the top to double their lead and then added his second with a header from Neymar's cross.

Uruguay striker Suarez finished the tournament with five goals in two games after scoring a hat-trick in the 3-0 semi-final win over Guangzhou Evergrande.

Less than a year ago Luis Enrique was reported to be on the verge of being sacked, but the club's board stuck by him and since then they have won five of the six possible trophies 2015 had to offer.

Only a Spanish Super Cup defeat by Athletic Bilbao denied them the chance to match the 2009 sextuple under Pep Guardiola.

They are top of La Liga for now [on goal difference from Atletico Madrid, who play later on Sunday], and in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey and Champions League - as they bid to do it all again in 2016.

Barcelona have scored 176 goals this year - a new club record. They have one final game to add to it - at home to Real Betis in the league on 30 December.

River Plate started quite brightly in the Yokohama International Stadium. But once Barca's front three got going, they had no hope.

Messi and Neymar both missed the semi-final with fitness problems, but Suarez had ensured they were not missed with his semi-final treble.

But with the three players reunited and in top form, no club in the world can handle them.

For their opener Neymar and Messi both had roles in the build-up before the Brazilian found his Argentine colleague to fire home the opener.

Suarez added a second from Busquets' excellent long ball and then headed home Neymar's excellent cross for his second.

Both tried to play in Neymar for a goal of his own, but he will still be happy with his goal-free performance - having lost in the 2011 final to Barca while at Santos.

(BBC)

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