Real Madrid prepares to contest Club World Cup in Japan

AP , Monday 12 Dec 2016

Real Madrid
Real Madrid players run during a training session at Mitsuzawa stadium in Yokohama on December 12, 2016 ahead of their Club World Cup football match against Club America of Mexico on December 15. (AFP)

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says his team is in good shape despite a 13-hour flight to Japan for the Club World Cup.

Madrid arrived in Tokyo at 5 a.m. and the team was greeted by about 300 Japanese fans at Haneda airport before boarding a team bus.

The Spanish club held a light training session Monday evening and has a couple of days to overcome jet lag before Thursday's semifinal match against Mexican team Club America.

Madrid set a club record after a 35th consecutive match without a loss by beating Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric did not play Saturday. Gareth Bale is recovering from a foot injury.

European teams have been the most successful in the tournament, with eight titles.

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