REAL MADRID 1-1 AL-HILAL: Trent Alexander-Arnold played 64 minutes in his Real Madrid debut but Los Blancos were held by Saudi outfit Al-Hilal thanks to a last-gasp penalty save
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22:18, 18 Jun 2025
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold played 64 minutes in his Real Madrid debut
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
It was a rather uneventful start to life with Real Madrid for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Los Blancos new boy didn’t really catch the eye in a laboured performance from the Spanish giants in what was Xabi Alonso’s first game in charge.
They were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi side Al-Hilal at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in their Club World Cup opener.
That came after Federico Valverde saw a late penalty saved by Yassine Bounou to deny Real a winning start in America.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, moved to the La Liga outfit early after they paid Liverpool £10m so he could feature in this competition and he made his debut alongside Dean Huijsen, who joined from Bournemouth.
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There will be better games to come from the England international once he settles into life with Real after 64 minutes of little action for the right-back before he was replaced by Lucas Vazquez.
It was his interception which started the move for Real’s opening goal.
The move ended with Gonzalo Garcia finding the net following an unorthodox finish in the 34th minute.
Their lead lasted just seven minutes before former Wolves man Ruben Neves equalised for Simone Inzaghi’s side before the break.
Alexander-Arnold had been caught out earlier in the half before a move which Renan Lodi finished for Al-Hilal but the offside flag went up.
Alexander-Arnold in action for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup
Alexander-Arnold in action for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup
Neves also put in the corner and Hassan Al Tambakti beat Alexander-Arnold to the header but could not find the target.
Alexander-Arnold was looking to ping his trademark long balls from the right-back position and set Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo clear on the left.
The now former Liverpool full-back tried to influence Real’s attack on the right going forward before he went off but Alonso’s side didn’t click into top gear.
Real still had a chance to win it late on when they got a controversial penalty after a VAR review.
Mohammed Al Qahtani was adjudged to have impeded Fran Garcia with a hand to the face but Valverde delivered a poor spot kick.
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