Real Madrid cruise into final

Real Madrid are through to the Club World Cup final after a 4-0 victory over Mexico's Cruz Azul at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.

Sergio Ramos opened the scoring on 15 minutes and Karim Benzema doubled the lead 21 minutes later.

The European champions, who were lax at the back all evening, almost let Luis Fernando Tena's side back into the game five minutes before the break when Ramos pulled back Mariano Pavone in the area.

However, Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas dived to his right to beat out Gerardo Torrado's weak penalty.

Gareth Bale, who was anonymous for much of the match, headed in the third five minutes into the second half, then Isco completed the scoring with a fine finish in the 72nd minute after a brilliant run from Cristiano Ronaldo.

The world player of the year, who played for most of the match on the left wing, almost netted with an outrageous rabona, but his 62nd minute effort from Bale's cross from the left was straight at Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jose Corona.

Real Madrid will meet the winners of Wednesday's second semi-final between Copa Libertadores holders San Lorenzo and New Zealand part-timers Auckland City in Saturday's final.

3' – SAVE! Corona shows great reflexes to keep out an effort from Ronaldo from point-blank range following a Benzema header back.

15' – GOAL!Cruz Azul 0-1Real Madrid. Sergio Ramos heads in Kroos' inch-perfect free-kick into the box, with Corona nowhere.

36' – GOAL!Cruz Azul 0-2 Real Madrid. Benzema volleys home in the six-yard box from Carvajal's brilliant cross from the right.

40' - PENALTY SAVE! Casillas saves Gerardo Torrado's penalty to his right after Ramos had hauled Pavone down in the area.

51' – GOAL!Cruz Azul 0-3 Real Madrid. Isco breaks and finds Benzema, who threads the ball to Ronaldo on the left. The Portuguese loops the ball up for Bale to head home at the far post.

61' – SAVE! Corona saves Bale's weak header. The Welshman was totally unmarked as he ran on to Ronaldo's outside of the boot cross.

62' – RONALDO RABONA! Ronaldo shoots at Corona with a rabona from Bale's cross from the left.

66' – HITS THE POST! Rodriguez feeds the Cruz substitute Barrera, and his shot hits the inside of the Real Madrid post and bounces out!

72' – GOAL! Cruz Azul 0-4 Real Madrid. Ronaldo steps over the ball four times and feeds Isco, who shows great skill himself to cut inside and shoot past Corona.

84' – HITS THE POST! Khedira steers a header against Corona's right-hand post following a fine run by Ronaldo down the left and cross from Jese.

88' - SAVE! Corona blocks Ronaldo's swerving effort, a shot that may have clipped the wall as well. Good save from the 33-year-old.

Gareth Bale's goal against Cruz Azul means the Welshman has scored in three consecutive games for Real Madrid for the first time.

Toni Kroos won the Club World Cup with Bayern Munich last year, and Cristiano Ronaldo won it with Manchester United in 2008. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti won the tournament with AC Milan in 2007.

Do European sides care about the Club World Cup? At the final whistle of the 2012 final between Chelsea and Corinthians in Yokohama, the faces of the English players Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard betrayed a slight peevishness at Chelsea's 1-0 defeat. The Brazilians in the Blues' line-up, David Luiz, Ramires and Oscar were inconsolable. This trophy matters way more to South Americans, who see it as a chance to put one over on the Champions League winners and prove that their continent is the true home of football. True, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti did name a very strong side against Cruz Azul, but for Europeans, the tournament does seem a mere bauble and a contractual obligation.

Toni Kroos (Real Madrid): The German was allowed a starring role by Cristiano Ronaldo in Marrakech, with the world player of the year preferring to drift to the left wing against Cruz Azul. The World Cup winner, who won this tournament last year with Bayern Munich, revelled in his starring role with a performance reminiscent of his predecessor Xavi Alonso.

Cruz Azul: Corona 7, Pinto 6, Maza 7, Dominguez 6, Flores 6, Bernardello 5, Torrado 5, Chaco 6, Rojas 7, Formica 6, Pavone 6 Subs: Valdez 6, Barrera 6, Fabian 6.

Real Madrid: Casillas 7, Pepe 7, Ramos 7, Marcelo 7, Carvajal 7, Kroos 9, Isco 8, Illarramendi 7, Bale 7, Benzema 7, Ronaldo 7. Subs: Khedira 7, Jese 7, Varane 7.