Real Madrid Ties 1-1 with Al Hilal in FIFA Club World Cup Opener

• Real Madrid held 1-1 by Al Hilal in Xabi Alonso's shaky Club World Cup debut
• Heroic Bounou save denies Madrid late win as Al Hilal snatch surprise point
• Al Hilal rise on global stage with gutsy draw against European giants Real Madrid

Real Madrid kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup journey with a surprising 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on June 18, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium. The game, played in sweltering heat before a nearly packed crowd, marked a bumpy debut for new manager Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid struck first in the 34th minute when young star Gonzalo Garcia, filling in for an unwell Kylian Mbappé, calmly slotted home a goal after a smooth team move sparked by Rodrygo. But Al Hilal, led by their new coach Simone Inzaghi, didn’t back down. Just before halftime, Rúben Neves leveled the score with a penalty kick, coolly outsmarting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after a foul in the box.

After the break, Real Madrid controlled the ball but couldn’t break through Al Hilal’s solid defense, anchored by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. In the final moments, a VAR-called penalty gave Real Madrid a shot at victory, but Bounou’s stunning save stopped Federico Valverde’s strike, earning Al Hilal a hard-fought point.“Penalties are about intuition and fortune,” Bounou said to DAZN afterward. “Today, I got it right.”

Al Hilal, despite missing their key striker Aleksandar Mitrovic due to injury, showed grit and flair, with Marcos Leonardo creating but missing a few chances. “We showed we can compete with the best,” Neves said, proud of holding firm against a football powerhouse.

For Real Madrid, the match exposed some growing pains under Alonso, who took over from Carlo Ancelotti. New signing Trent Alexander-Arnold, fresh from Liverpool, shared his thoughts: “It’s a dream to play for Real, but we expect to win every game.” The team showed only glimpses of their usual magic in the Miami heat.

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Both sides now gear up for critical Group H games, with Real Madrid facing Pachuca and Al Hilal meeting RB Salzburg on June 22. The draw highlights Al Hilal’s rising confidence on the world stage.