Kashima vs Real Madrid: A Madrid from another world

Sergio Ramos raised the Club World Cup trophy to the Yokohama sky 732 days ago, confirming them as world champion.

After a long-suffering match against Kashima, their rival on Wednesday in the fight for a place in Saturday's final against Al-Ain, Real won in extra-time.

Since that Sunday December 18, many things have happened, among others that Madrid have won the Champions League three times in a row.

The target is now to do the same with the Club World Cup.

On the way there have been tough, complicated situations, but Los Blancos are in again in a position to extend their reign after their triumph in Kiev.

The triumph in the Japanese city was followed by another in Abu Dhabi against Gremio.

Now is the time for Solari's XI to show that they can continue at the top.

Real have already had 105 weeks of wearing the FIFA emblem alongside their club badge and now, the team arrives having achieved qualification to the next stage of the Champions League as top of the group, and with only five points separating them from the LaLiga Santander summit.

That's a completely different situation to 12 months ago when Real were eight points shy of the Catalans and not playing as well as now.

With Solari at the helm

Real Madrid in recent years have been able to turn around extreme situations, in which everyone doubts their competitive ability until they can demonstrate that their competitive gene.

While that happens, Ramos raises titles, as he did in Yokohama two years ago or last December in Abu Dhabi.

Cardiff and Kiev can attest to that ability to make it easy for the Madridistas.

Now the new challenge comes with Solari in command of a ship that needs to find its course, something it appeared to have done until the CSKA debacle.

Victory over Rayo has restored some confidence, and now Solari has the opportunity to start his career as a coach with the title of world champion.