Real Madrid Held to 1-1 Draw by Spirited Al-Hilal in Club World Cup Opener

Real Madrid’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign began with frustration as the Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in a lively Group H opener at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The match marked Xabi Alonso’s managerial debut for Madrid, but his side delivered only flashes of promise under the sweltering Florida sun.

Garcia Steps Up, Neves Responds

With Kylian Mbappé sidelined by illness, 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia seized his opportunity, opening the scoring for Real Madrid in the 34th minute. The young forward finished calmly after a slick passing move on the right, becoming one of the youngest players to score on his first start for the club since 2009.

Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi and featuring several European-caliber players, responded with resilience. Just before halftime, Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves converted a penalty—awarded after a clumsy challenge by Raul Asencio—sending Thibaut Courtois the wrong way and leveling the match.

Missed Chances and a Dramatic Finish

Real Madrid made tactical adjustments at halftime, shifting to a back three and introducing Arda Guler, which sparked a period of attacking pressure. Guler struck the crossbar with a volley early in the second half, and Garcia was denied a second goal by a sharp save from Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Despite Madrid’s increased urgency, Al-Hilal’s defense held firm. The Saudi side created several dangerous moments on the counter, with Salem Al-Dawsari and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic threatening the Madrid goal.

The match reached a dramatic climax in stoppage time when Madrid were awarded a penalty. Federico Valverde stepped up, but Bounou guessed correctly and saved the spot-kick, ensuring Al-Hilal took a well-earned point.

Alonso’s Debut and Group Implications

Xabi Alonso’s first match in charge saw Madrid field their youngest starting XI for an opening game since 2009, but the side struggled with defensive organization and lacked clarity in the final third. “We must find positives in every game; we can learn and continue to enhance our performance,” Alonso said post-match.

For Al-Hilal, the result was a statement of intent and a reward for their tactical discipline and work rate. The draw leaves Group H wide open, with Madrid set to face Pachuca next, while Al-Hilal meet RB Salzburg in a potentially decisive clash for knockout qualification.

Final Score:

Real Madrid 1 (Garcia 34’)
Al-Hilal 1 (Neves 44’ pen)

A missed late penalty and a resilient opponent mean Madrid’s path to the knockout stage is already more complicated than expected.

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