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Bale's hat-trick fires Real Madrid into 3rd straight Club World Cup final

Matthew Ashton - AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Gareth Bale just loves the Club World Cup.

The Welshman found the net three times against Japanese side Kashima Antlers on Wednesday, powering Real Madrid to a 3-1 win to seal Los Blancos' place in the tournament final for the third consecutive year.

Bale, 29, has a chance to become the competition's all-time leading scorer when Real Madrid meet Al Ain in Saturday's final.

The Spanish giants - two-time reigning Club World Cup champions - will be looking to capture the crown for the fourth time in the last five years. Victory against the Emirati side this weekend would see Madrid become the winningest club in tournament history; Santiago Solari's men are currently level on three titles with bitter rivals Barcelona.

Al Ain, meanwhile, will be making their maiden appearance in the showpiece match after they stunned South American kingpins River Plate on penalties in their semifinal Tuesday.

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