Inter-Club World Cup Results 2025: Real Madrid was held to a 1-1-Hilal draw, Valverde failed penalty!

Gilabola.com -Real Madrid had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in the opening match of Group H of the 2025 World Cup World Cup which took place in Miami, Thursday morning WIB. This match is a debut for Madrid’s new coach, Xabi Alonso, who immediately got a tough test in his first competitive match.

Madrid won first through a goal Gonzalo García, a young player who dropped out of the academy who was believed to replace Kylian Mbappé who was absent from illness. But the advantage only lasted five minutes after Raúl Asencio committed a silly violation in the forbidden box and Ruben Neves successfully executed a penalty to equalize.

In the second half, Madrid dominated the ball possession and continued to press. The golden opportunity came in the final minutes when the referee gave a controversial penalty for El Real. But Yassine Bounou appeared as a hero of Al Hilal by dismissing the Federico Valverde kick, making sure the draw remained until the long whistle sounded.

Alonso hasn’t found a magical touch, Al Hilal is more tactical

Xabi Alonso came to Madrid just a few weeks before the tournament began, replacing Carlo Ancelotti after a season full of disappointment. He was not given the ideal preseason time, but was immediately thrown into a large tournament with high expectations. “I want Madrid to play more compact, with all players involved in every phase of the game,” he said in a press conference the day before the fight.

However, in reality, Madrid still showed signs of the team that had not been united. The midfield is often cut off from the back line, and Madrid’s attack is too dependent on individual improvisation.

Conversely, Al Hilal appeared more organized. Although they were also transitioning with the new coach Simone Inzaghi, the Saudi Arabian team appeared confident. They have more ball possession in the first half and release double the number of shots than Madrid.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had threatened the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, and Al Hilal midfield appeared solid thanks to the combination of Ruben Neves and João Cancelo. With a luxurious investment squad worth more than $ 550 million in the last two years, Al Hilal is now a very worthy opponent with elite European clubs.

Match analysis

Real Madrid again appeared under expectations, even after changing coaches. This draw shows that the transition process under Xabi Alonso will not take place smoothly. On the other hand, Al Hilal proves itself as a new force at the world level. For Alonso, this tournament can be a fast learning moment – or precisely the beginning of a big pressure if similar results continue.