Sergio Ramos Shows Real Madrid the Way to Club World Cup Success

Sergio Ramos set Real Madrid on the path to their fourth trophy of 2014 by scoring the opening goal in their 2-0 victory over San Lorenzo in Saturday’s Club World Cup final in Marrakech.

Ramos had been a doubt for the match due to a muscle injury, but Carlo Ancelotti was handsomely rewarded for his decision to put faith in his centre-back’s ability to make it through the match.

When Madrid’s forwards were struggling to find a way through their opponents’ deep-lying and well-organised defensive block, it was Ramos who rose to the occasion to head home a Toni Kroos corner and give his side the lead just before half-time.

It was not the first time that the pair have combined for a goal. Per OptaJose, it was the third time this season that Ramos has converted a Kroos delivery. It was also not the first occasion on which Ramos has stepped up to the mark and provided a decisive offensive contribution in a big match.

It was of course Ramos who headed home the opening goal in the semi-final victory over Cruz Azul. And it was he who scored twice in the second leg of last season’s Champions League semi-final victory over Bayern Munich.

And, perhaps most importantly, it was Ramos who saved Madrid’s bid for their 10th Champions League trophy by heading home an injury-time equaliser in May’s final against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

With the match level, and Atletico dead on their feet after coming so close to a famous victory, Madrid’s forwards made the difference in extra time, seeing them to an eventual 4-1 victory.

Those same forwards struggled to make an impact on Saturday. Gareth Bale spent more time on the ground than on the ball during the opening 45 minutes, while Cristiano Ronaldo cut a visibly frustrated figure who was starved of both space and service.

Had Ramos not risen majestically above Mario Yepes to give his side the lead, San Lorenzo would have been very happy with a first half in which they stifled Madrid’s attack and were also able to draw their opponents into some needless scraps.

Ramos is never far from such skirmishes, and both he and Dani Carvajal were booked for silly fouls during the first half. Marcelo had to be substituted after appearing to injure himself when attempting to slyly kick out at the San Lorenzo right-back Julio Buffarini.

But when he was fully focused on defending, Ramos and his centre-back partner Pepe comfortably dealt with the limited attacking threat offered by their Argentinian opponents.

Bale did manage to double Madrid’s lead early in the second half after benefiting from a goalkeeping error, but they were unable to create many further chances of note.

In his pre-match press conference, Ramos had praised the locals for the support they had provided Madrid in their semi-final victory over Cruz Azul. Those inside the stadium on Saturday showed their appreciation by applauding and chanting his name when he was substituted for Raphael Varane in the closing minutes of play.

Afterwards, prior to being named the player of the tournament by FIFA (h/t Football Espana), he reflected on what has been an excellent 2014 for his club.

His football education may have taken place in Sevilla, but Ramos has become an emblematic figure for Madrid in the nine years since his move to the Bernabeu. He is the second-longest-serving member of the current squad and, despite the odd mad moment, a real leader.

To have an excellent defender who is also able to contribute at the other end of the pitch is a valuable resource for any club—particularly so when his goals regularly come on the biggest stages of all.

Ramos will hope to take his goalscoring touch into the finals that he and Madrid aspire to reach this year. Who knows—this time next year, he could well make a decisive contribution to a potential defence of his club’s newly earned crown.