Xabi Alonso’s debut as Real Madrid coach got off to a rocky start. The team faced Al Hilal in Miami and came away with a 1-1 draw. Alonso’s opposite number, Simone Inzaghi, was likely happier with the result.
The Saudis came out strong, with Milinkovic-Savic forcing a tough save from Courtois early on. Asencio responded with a long-range shot, but it was no trouble for Bono. The Spanish team controlled the ball, but their opponents created more scoring chances. Marcos Leonardo had a chance to open the scoring, but his shot went just wide. Then, Renan Lodi scored, but it was disallowed for offside.
The game changed when Gonzalo García, replacing the injured Kylian Mbappé, scored the first goal. Rodrygo provided a great assist, and García’s finish was a bit lucky, but it counted. The goal was a wake-up call for Al Hilal. Asencio fouled Marcos Leonardo, giving Rúben Neves a chance to score from the penalty spot. Neves, who won the Nations League with Portugal, fooled Courtois and equalized just before halftime.
In the second half, Real Madrid pushed hard for a winner. Vinícius Júnior’s crosses caused trouble, with Arda Guler hitting the post and García nearly scoring again. But the goal wouldn’t come. Then, Fran García won a penalty after a clash with Al Qahtani. Valverde stepped up to take it, but Bono made a huge save to deny him. The draw was a fair result, but Alonso will be disappointed his team didn’t take all three points.
Bono’s penalty save was the turning point. It kept Al Hilal in the game and gave them a chance to push for a winner. In the end, neither team could find a way to win, and they settled for a point each. The match was a thrilling start to the FIFA Club World Cup, with both teams showing they’re ready to compete.
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