Meet the teams that will try and prevent Real Madrid from winning back to back Club World Cups

#1 Gremio

Gremio players celebrating a goal in the Copa Libertadores final

Gremio was the final team to seal their place at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup. They won their third Copa Libertadores title last week, beating Argentinian side Lanus 3-1 on aggregate.

The club that has produced the likes of Ronaldinho, Douglas Costa and Lucas Leiva, qualified for the Copa Libertadores as the 2016 Brazilian Cup winners. On their way to the title, they lost only twice and won 10 of 14 matches, including both in the final.

Former Gremio player Renato Portaluppi is the manager, he started his third spell in charge in September 2016. The former Brazil international played for the side in the 80's and he was part of the team that won Gremio's first Libertadores title in 1983. The same year, he scored both goals in a 2-1 win against HSV in the Intercontinental Cup.

Portaluppi looks like a great mentor for Gremio's current group of players that includes many potential superstars.

Luan has come on leaps and bounds in recent seasons. He's a bit of late bloomer, being 24 and still playing in Brazil, though, it shouldn't take long before he makes his way across the Atlantic. He was voted as the Libertadores best player this year and the successful year also includes a debut for Brazil.

21-year-old Everton, who scored eight times in the Brazilian Serie A this season, could follow Luan soon and Artur, who's also 21, has already been linked with Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

Among local stars, there's also Lucas Barrios, who might be remembered by older football fans from his time at Dortmund. The Paraguayan has pretty much travelled all over the world and he helped Borussia to consecutive league titles in 2011 and 2012. He signed for Gremio in February.

At the tournament, the South American sides have always been seen as the most dangerous competition for the UEFA Champions League winners.

It will be interesting to see if Gremio's exciting team or any of the other sides can challenge Real for this year's title. The European teams have won nine of the last ten Club World Cups. However, there's never been a side that's successfully managed to defend the title.