By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 19, 2025 08:07 AM • 73 views
Xabi Alonso's managerial debut with Real Madrid was supposed to mark a new chapter. Instead, it opened with a sweltering stalemate — a 1-1 draw against Saudi challengers Al-Hilal in a testy Group H clash of the FIFA Club World Cup at the Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday. Despite flashes of flair and a promising first-half lead courtesy of 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia — stepping in for the fever-stricken Kylian Mbappé — Madrid was undone by old flaws: wasted chances, defensive lapses, and in the end, a costly missed penalty from Federico Valverde. Al-Hilal, marshalled smartly by Simone Inzaghi and anchored by the commanding presence of Ruben Neves and Yassine Bounou, did more than just stand their ground — they rattled Real's rhythm and pressed with conviction in punishing Miami heat that turned the game into a war of endurance.
Garcia Glimmers, but Madrid Wilts
With Mbappé sidelined and the Miami humidity draining both stamina and strategy, Real needed new heroes. Garcia answered early, capping off a silky team move in the 33rd minute with a calm, chipped finish over Bounou after a precise assist from Rodrygo.
But just as the champions began to ease into cruise control, Al-Hilal struck back. A clumsy pull by Raul Asencio on Marcos Leonardo gifted the Saudi side a penalty, which Neves tucked home with precision in the 41st minute.
Alonso, patrolling the touchline with urgency, looked on as Real's creative engine stuttered. New recruit Trent Alexander-Arnold, lured from Liverpool with high expectations, had a forgettable outing — defensively exposed and offensively absent.
Al-Hilal's Rising Belief
If Real Madrid were expected to dominate, Al-Hilal defied the script. From the opening whistle, they attacked with ambition. Salem Al-Dawsari was a constant menace down the flank, while Milinkovic-Savic orchestrated play with guile. In the second half, as the crowd of nearly 60,000 roared and the temperature soared past 33°C, the Saudis bent but never broke. Arda Güler's thunderous strike kissed the crossbar, Garcia was again denied by a cat-quick Bounou, and still, the underdogs held on.
Drama at the Death
Real's best chance for a winner came in the dying seconds. A VAR-reviewed handball on Al-Qahtani earned Los Blancos a lifeline — a penalty in the 90th minute. But Valverde's tepid shot lacked both power and placement, and Bounou — cool as ever — smothered it. It was a miss that summed up Real's night: ideas without execution, effort without edge.
Looking Ahead
With RB Salzburg and Pachuca yet to play in Group H, the pressure is now firmly on Real Madrid heading into their second match against the Mexican side. For Al-Hilal, a win over Salzburg could all but seal a historic qualification. For Alonso, the honeymoon is already over. Madridistas demand more than glimpses of potential — they demand results. But on a night when the world's most decorated club met the continent's boldest underdogs, it was Al-Hilal who walked taller — and deservedly so.
Next Fixtures:
Real Madrid vs Pachuca – Sunday, June 22 Al-Hilal vs RB Salzburg – Sunday, June 22
