Real Madrid are through to the Club World Cup final thanks to a straightforward 4-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the last four.
Los Blancos refused to underestimate the Mexicans, Sergio Ramos being their only newcomer from the 4-1 thrashing of Almeria at the weekend in what was otherwise a full-strength XI.
Their preparations for the match, however, were interrupted by FIFA's decision to change the venue from Rabat to Marrakech, some 300km away, due to the torrential conditions during their opponents' encounter with Western Sydney Wanderers last Friday.
Cruz Azul, meanwhile, made two changes from the side who beat the Australians 3-1, with former Almeria midfielder Hernan Bernardello and Joao Rojas replacing Xavier Baez and Marco Fabian.
The North American champions possessed plenty of La Liga experience, namely ex-Real Betis striker Mariano Pavone, Gerrardo Torrado, once of Sevilla and one-time Zaragoza star Pablo Barrera.
Madrid exploded into life, dominating the first half-hour, and they almost broke the deadlock after three minutes, when Dani Carvajal's cross towards the far post was met by Karim Benzema, who in turn knocked the ball down for Cristiano Ronaldo to routinely dispatch, but the Portuguese could only shoot straight at Jesus Corona.
Nonetheless, the capital giants were soon rewarded for their gung-ho start to proceedings through Ramos. The defender marked his comeback with his side's opening goal, climbing highest to head home Toni Kroos' whipped ball into the box.
The Champions League holders then doubled their advantage, courtesy of Carvajal's excellent work down the right to bypass two markers and clip a pinpoint ball into the path of Benzema, who made no mistake about the finish in the area.
However, Madrid would end the half counting their lucky stars as Ramos hauled down Pavone en route to goal, throwing an arm over the Argentine striker. Torrado was presented with the chance to pull one back for Cruz Azul from the penalty spot, but Iker Casillas guessed correctly.
Unfortunately for the designated hosts, the Spaniards were quick off the blocks from the restart. Just five minutes in, Isco's pass found Ronaldo on the left-hand channel, and the forward sent an inch-perfect cross into the box for Gareth Bale to rifle past Corona with his head.
With Cruz Azul firmly out of sight, Madrid were in total control, although Ronaldo should have buried Bale's high cross on the hour mark, instead opting for the spectacular with a rabona strike, which Corona gratefully gathered.
At the other end, substitute Barrera came agonisingly close to pulling one back for Cruz Azul, were it not for his swerving attempt from distance crashing against the framework, with Casillas in no-man's land.
Mauro Formica then had a rare sight of goal, heading a cross straight at Casillas, but Madrid were readying their best goal of the evening. Ronaldo, stationed out on the left, hypnotised his marker with a series of step-overs before teeing up Isco, who evaded several Mexican jerseys for their side's fourth.
Carlo Ancelotti’s troops understandably eased up on their rivals, inviting pressure from them down the wings, and a deep cross from the right was almost swiped into Los Blancos’ net by Carvajal, who saw the funny side of his blunder immediately after.
Ronaldo continued to threaten, assisting Sami Khedira's header off the crossbar and stinging Corona's palms from a late free kick, but it didn't matter as Madrid will now face either Auckland City or San Lorenzo in Saturday's final.
Cruz Azul 0-4 Real Madrid
Ramos 15, Benzema 36, Bale 50, Isco 72
Cruz Azul: Corona; Flores, Rodriguez, Dominguez, Pinto; Gimenez (Fabian 65), Torrado, Bernardello, Rojas (Valadez 76); Formica, Pavone (Barrera 65)
Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos (Varane 64), Marcelo; Illarramendi, Isco (Jese 76), Kroos (Khedira 73); Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Referee: Enrique Osses [CHI]
