Aksel Kryhlmand
Up front, young striker Gonzalo Garcia was given a rare opportunity to lead the line in place of a sidelined Kylian Mbappé, who missed out due to illness.
Xabi Alonso’s debut as Real Madrid manager ended in disappointment as his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal in their opening match at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Surprise Resistance from Al Hilal
Despite entering the match as heavy favourites, Madrid were met with unexpectedly stiff resistance. Al Hilal, coached by newly appointed Simone Inzaghi, proved far from overawed by their illustrious opponents.
Alonso, who took over from Carlo Ancelotti after an impressive spell at Bayer Leverkusen, handed debuts to defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, both starting in the back line.
Up front, young striker Gonzalo Garcia was given a rare opportunity to lead the line in place of a sidelined Kylian Mbappé, who missed out due to illness.
Fortune Favours Garcia, but Al Hilal Strike Back
Garcia opened the scoring in the 34th minute in somewhat comical fashion. After receiving a pass from Rodrygo, the forward mishit his shot entirely, only to see it bobble past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, known to fans as Bono.
However, Al Hilal struck back just before the break. Midfielder Ruben Neves, one of several European imports in the Saudi side, converted a penalty in the 40th minute after drawing a foul inside the box.
Second-Half Drama and Missed Chances
Real Madrid dominated much of the second half but struggled to break through Al Hilal’s well-drilled defensive unit. In the dying minutes, the game nearly turned in their favour following a highly controversial VAR decision.
A flailing arm from Mohammed Al-Qahtani inadvertently caught Fran Garcia in the face inside the penalty area. After a lengthy review and fierce protests from the Saudi bench, a penalty was awarded.
Federico Valverde stepped up in the 100th minute, but his low effort was brilliantly saved by Bono, preserving a famous result for Al Hilal.
City Cruise Through in Contrast
Earlier in the day, Manchester City enjoyed a far smoother debut at the Club World Cup, defeating Wydad Casablanca 2-0. Phil Foden and Jérémy Doku were on target, while new midfield signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki made their first appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side.