Real Madrid’s highly anticipated debut at the Club World Cup ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw against a resilient Al-Hilal side in Miami. Despite the buzz around a new era under Xabi Alonso and the debut of high-profile players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Madrid found themselves held at bay by a disciplined and determined opponent.
The match kicked off under sweltering South Florida heat, adding to the discomfort of a stop-start performance. Real Madrid took the lead in the 34th minute through Gonzalo García, who finished off a lightning-quick counterattack that began with Alexander-Arnold winning the ball deep in his own half. The move flowed smoothly through the midfield before Rodrygo delivered a perfect cross to García, whose awkward yet effective finish bobbled into the net.
That brief burst of quality wasn’t enough to shake off Al-Hilal, who responded just seven minutes later. A clumsy challenge from Raul Asencio inside the box gifted Al-Hilal a penalty, and Rúben Neves converted with composure to level the score before halftime.
Madrid returned after the break with fresh legs and renewed intent, bringing on Arda Guler and reshuffling the backline by dropping Aurélien Tchouaméni into defence. Guler almost made an immediate impact, rattling the crossbar with a fierce shot, while García forced a sharp save from Yassine Bounou on the goalline. Despite dominating possession, Madrid struggled to find a cutting edge.
Jude Bellingham played with energy and direction, constantly drifting across the pitch, urging his teammates to move and find rhythm. However, much of Madrid’s play remained disjointed, perhaps expected given the squad’s short preparation period just nine days and three training sessions.
Alexander-Arnold, under scrutiny on his debut, had a mixed performance. He started brightly with a key role in the opening goal but also gave away possession dangerously at times and was substituted after 65 minutes. The heat, combined with the early stage of Madrid’s development under Alonso, meant the match lost intensity as it wore on.
Al-Hilal, disciplined and dangerous on the counter, almost stole the win after a mistake from Lucas Vázquez, but Marcos Leonardo squandered the chance. Madrid then had a golden opportunity to snatch victory with a controversial VAR-awarded penalty in stoppage time. Federico Valverde stepped up but saw his effort saved, a moment that encapsulated Madrid’s inability to impose themselves fully.
In the end, the result felt fair. While Madrid showed glimpses of promise, Al-Hilal’s composure and grit earned them a valuable point, delivering a strong message in a competition where they’ve often been cast as underdogs.
