The 2015 FIFA Club World Cup final was the final match of the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup, an association football tournament hosted by Japan. It was the 12th final of the FIFA Club World Cup, a FIFA-organised tournament between the winners of the six continental confederations as well as the host nation's league champions.
The final was contested between Argentine club River Plate, representing CONMEBOL as the reigning champions of the Copa Libertadores and Spanish club Barcelona, representing UEFA as the reigning champions of the UEFA Champions League. It was played at the International Stadium in Yokohama on 20 December 2015. Barcelona won the game 3–0 to claim their third FIFA Club World Cup title. The win for Barcelona was also their fifth trophy of 2015.
Background River Plate River Plate qualified for the tournament as winners of the 2015 Copa Libertadores, following a 3–0 aggregate win against UANL in the final. This was River Plate's first time competing in the tournament. They have played two times in the Intercontinental Cup, the predecessor of the FIFA Club World Cup, with one win (1986) and one loss (1996). They reached the final after defeating Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the semi-finals.
Barcelona Barcelona qualified for the tournament as winners of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League, following a 3–1 win against Juventus in the final. This was Barcelona's fourth time competing in the tournament, after winning twice in 2009 and 2011, as well as being runners-up in 2006. They have played one time in the Intercontinental Cup, with one loss (1992). They reached the final after defeating Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande in the semi-finals.
Route to the final River PlateTeam BarcelonaCONMEBOLConfederationUEFAWinners of the 2015 Copa LibertadoresQualificationWinners of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions LeagueByePlay-off roundByeByeQuarter-finalsBye1–0 Sanfrecce HiroshimaSemi-finals3–0 Guangzhou Evergrande
Match
Summary
Details
GK 1 Marcelo Barovero (c)RB 25 Gabriel MercadoCB 2 Jonatan MaidanaCB 3 Éder Álvarez BalantaLB 21 Leonel VangioniRM 8 Carlos SánchezDM 5 Matías Kranevitter LM 23 Leonardo Ponzio AM 19 Tabaré Viudez CF 7 Rodrigo Mora CF 13 Lucas AlarioSubstitutes:GK 12 Augusto BatallaGK 26 Julio ChiariniDF 6 Leandro VegaDF 20 Milton CascoDF 24 Emanuel MammanaMF 10 Gonzalo Martínez MF 16 Nicolás BertoloMF 18 Camilo MayadaMF 27 Lucho González FW 11 Javier SaviolaFW 15 Leonardo PisculichiFW 22 Sebastián Driussi Manager: Marcelo Gallardo GK 13 Claudio BravoRB 6 Dani AlvesCB 3 Gerard PiquéCB 14 Javier Mascherano LB 18 Jordi Alba RM 4 Ivan Rakitić CM 5 Sergio BusquetsLM 8 Andrés Iniesta (c)RF 10 Lionel MessiCF 9 Luis SuárezLF 11 Neymar Substitutes:GK 1 Marc-André ter StegenGK 25 Jordi MasipDF 15 Marc BartraDF 21 AdrianoDF 23 Thomas Vermaelen DF 24 Jérémy Mathieu MF 20 Sergi Roberto MF 26 Sergi SamperMF 28 Gerard GumbauFW 17 MunirFW 19 Sandro RamírezManager: Luis Enrique
Man of the MatchLuis Suárez (Barcelona)
Assistant refereesReza Sokhandan (Iran)Mohammadreza Mansouri (Iran)Fourth officialSidi Alioum (Cameroon)Match rules 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra time if necessary Penalty shoot-out if scores still level Twelve named substitutes, of which up to three may be used
Statistics
+First halfStatisticBarcelonaGoals scored01Total shots38Shots on target24Saves03Ball possession34%66%Corner kicks21Fouls committed176Offsides01Yellow cards22Red cards00
+Second halfStatisticBarcelonaGoals scored02Total shots68Shots on target44Saves12Ball possession40%60%Corner kicks41Fouls committed57Offsides11Yellow cards02Red cards00
+OverallStatisticBarcelonaGoals scored03Total shots916Shots on target68Saves15Ball possession37%63%Corner kicks62Fouls committed2213Offsides12Yellow cards24Red cards00
See also
2014–15 UEFA Champions League 2015 Copa Libertadores FC Barcelona in international football
References
External links