Trent Alexander-Arnold’s dream debut for Real Madrid was tempered by frustration when Al-Hilal denied them victory in their Club World Cup opener.
The former Liverpool defender was included in the starting line-up at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium along with Dean Huijsen – a summer signing from Bournemouth – but they and their team-mates had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
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Asked about the experience afterwards, Alexander-Arnold said: “An incredible day. To have made a debut for Real Madrid is something, I think, almost every player dreams of, so to be able to achieve it is huge for me.
“Of course, there’s some disappointment in there to have not won the game. It’s the mentality you need to have as a Real Madrid player, to want and expect to win every game that you playing, so disappointed not to do that.
“But there were a lot of positives, especially in the second half.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold plays a pass down the wing
Trent Alexander-Arnold played the opening 65 minutes and praised the ‘sensational’ support from Real fans since his arrival from Liverpool - Fifa via Getty Images/Rich Storry
The England full-back was warmly received by the Real fans as he played the opening 65 minutes, and thanked them for their support.
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“Incredible,” he said. “I felt the support from the moment I signed with the club, to be honest. Absolutely sensational. Our fan base is global, truly global, all over the world and you feel it every single day, the fans at training grounds and the hotel, all over social media as well.
“The support is incredible, so a huge thank you for that. Of course, we dominated the stands today as well, which was incredible. The support is truly amazing.”
If Alexander-Arnold’s debut was one of the talking points before the game, it was goalkeeper Yassine Bounou who was Al-Hilal’s hero as he saved a late penalty to deny the Spaniards victory.
The 34-year-old Morocco international kept out Federico Valverde’s stoppage-time spot kick to ensure it finished all square in the Group H opener, in what was a first game in charge for both Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso and opposite number Simone Inzaghi.
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Ruben Neves converted a 41st-minute penalty to cancel out Gonzalo García’s opener, but his efforts would have counted for little had it not been for Bounou’s heroics.
10:15 PM BST
Group H standings
Real Madrid- 1 point (1 game)
Al-Hilal- 1 point (1 game)
Pachuca- 0 points (0 games)
RB Salzburg- 0 points (0 games)
10:14 PM BST
Today’s fixtures
Group E:
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan
Group F:
Ulsan 0-1 Mamelodi
Group G:
Manchester City 2-0 Wydad
Group H:
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Pachuca vs RB Salzburg 11pm
10:13 PM BST
FT stats
Possession: Real Madrid 52%-48% Al-Hilal
Shots: 19-13
Shots on target: 7-2
Touches in opposition box: 37-20
Corners: 5-6
10:12 PM BST
Full time
Real Madrid have a corner, two minutes over the allotted seven minutes. Guler has an effort blocked by Koulibaly inside the penalty area.
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Finally the whistle is blown and the game ends all square at 1-1 in Miami.
10:06 PM BST
90+7 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Al-Hilal have a late, late corner. The delivery is poor though and cleared away at the front post.
10:04 PM BST
90+6 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Big late chance for Gonzalo. Huijsen sends in a great cross to the back post and Gonzalo beats Koulibaly to it. His header is saved on his line by Bono, who then holds onto the ball for too long and Real Madrid are awarded a corner.
The delivery is sent in and Tchouaméni meets it but heads over.
10:01 PM BST
90+3 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
We are into seven added minutes.
10:01 PM BST
PENALTY SAVED!
Bono guesses the right way literally and saves Valverde’s penalty. Justice served?
09:58 PM BST
PENALTY REAL MADRID!
The referee has changed his decision and pointed to the spot. Not sure how VAR felt that there was enough in that to deem it a penalty, especially considering the referee must have deemed it accidental in real time.
09:55 PM BST
88 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Garcia is caught by a stray arm from Alqathani inside the Al-Hilal box but the appeals are waved away. It was completely accidental and that feels like the right call. Had the referee deemed it a foul it would have been a penalty. In fact the referee has been summoned to the screen. Neves has been booked for his protests.
09:52 PM BST
85 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Modric is also getting a huge cheer whenever he touches the ball.
09:51 PM BST
84 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Huge applause for Modric as he comes on in his final few weeks as a Real Madrid player. He has replaced Bellingham.
09:50 PM BST
83 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Guler sends in an outswinging corner, which finds the head of Huijsen. His header misses the target but the last touch is adjudged to have come off an Al-Hilal player.
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Al-Hilal are making a double change as Lodi and Leonardo are being replaced by Alharbi and Aljuwayr. They then deal with the next corner from Guler.
09:49 PM BST
80 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Vinicius Jr is replaced by Munoz.
09:44 PM BST
77 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Bono is given a warning about time wasting from a goal-kick and you would imagine he is one more act of it away from a yellow card.
09:43 PM BST
76 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Change for Al-Hilal as Kanno replaces Aldawsari.
09:40 PM BST
73 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Chance down the other end this time. Diaz does well inside the Al-Hilal box and lays it off to Valverde, who hits it first time from the edge of the box but it is straight at Bono.
09:39 PM BST
72 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Leonardo has wasted a number of chances today and there is another one to add to the collection. Salem does well down the left and pulls it back to Leonardo in a central position. His weight is too far back and he blasts his shot well over the bar. No troubling the goal there.
09:38 PM BST
71 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Milenkovic-Savic is back on his feet and fine to continue after the cooling break. In the first half Real scored very soon after the cooling break in that half.
09:36 PM BST
69 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Milenkovic-Savic has stayed down after a challenge in the air with Fran Garcia. He has stayed down clutching his side and, with him receiving some treatment, we are going to take a cooling break.
09:34 PM BST
67 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Guler fancies himself from range and shoots from around 25 yards out but he cannot keep his effort down and it goes over the bar.
09:32 PM BST
65 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Double change for Real as well as Alexander-Arnold’s debut comes to an end. Rodrygo also comes off and they are replaced by Vazquez and Brahim Diaz.
09:32 PM BST
64 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Al-Hilal make their first two changes of the game as Malcom and Cancelo come off to be replaced by Alyami and Alqahtani.
09:29 PM BST
61 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Vinicius Jr stands up a cross from the left-hand side of the box and picks out Gonzalo beyond the back post. From a narrow angle Gonzalo gets his header away but it is straight at Bono.
09:26 PM BST
58 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Al-Hilal counter through their captain Salem and it looks like he might go all the way but Fran Garcia does just enough to deal with the danger to prevent Salem getting a one-on-one chance.
09:25 PM BST
57 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Huijsen is fouled by Milenkovic-Savic not far outside the Al-Hilal box and that presents a decent opportunity for Real to send the free-kick into the box. Milenkovic-Savic pleads his innocence as he got the ball but the referee decides he came through Huijen to get it.
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Guler sends it in but Koulibaly heads away.
09:21 PM BST
53 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Al-Hilal nearly ahead. Huijsen takes a chance inside his own box and is punished as his attempted pass to a teammate is intercepted. The ball loops into the air and falls at the feet of Leonardo six yards out on the right side of the box. He perhaps rushes his effort and fires into the side netting. A little more composure there and he could have scored.
09:18 PM BST
50 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
Al-Hilal were the better side in the first half but are hanging on a little at the moment as Valverde shoots wide from just outside the box. It is semi panic stations for Al-Hilal currently but it is still level.
09:15 PM BST
47 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
How have Real Madrid not scored there? That was mad inside the Al-Hilal box. Vinicius Jr sends in a cross from the left and Guler, only just on, shoots first time from ten yards out and it comes crashing back off the bar. Al-Hilal cannot clear their lines and Vinicius Jr ends up sending in another cross, which picks out Gonzalo at the back post. His header is brilliantly saved by Bono on his line.
09:12 PM BST
Second half
We are back under way in Miami. Some of the pitch inside Hard Rock Stadium is now in shade but still very hot. Real Madrid have made a change at the break as Guler has replaced Asencio. An interesting change that as Guler plays much further forward than Asencio so Tchouameni may slip back into centre-back.
09:04 PM BST
HT stats
Possession: Real Madrid 45%-55% Al-Hilal
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Shots: 5-11
Shots on target: 3-2
Touches in opposition box: 5-13
Corners: 0-5
08:54 PM BST
Half time
That is it for the first half and it is all square at 1-1 at the break in Miami. Gonzalo had given Real the lead but a Neves penalty means it is level at half time.
08:51 PM BST
45+2 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
That would have been a sublime goal. Salem exchanges a quality one-two with Milenkovic-Savic on the edge of the box and for all money it looks like Salem is going to whip it into the far corner. It does take a small deflection so it will be a corner but it comes to nothing.
08:49 PM BST
45 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 1
There will be five added minutes at the end of this first half.
08:45 PM BST
GOAL! Neves equalises for Al-Hilal
Neves sends Courtois the wrong way and Al-Hilal are deservedly level.
08:43 PM BST
PENALTY AL-HILAL!
Al-Hilal will have the chance to equalise from the spot. Garcia is the man at fault as he brings down Leonardo having put his arms around him. Garcia failed to deal with the danger and then panicked. Neves will take the penalty...
08:42 PM BST
37 mins: Real Madrid 1 Al-Hilal 0
Another chance for Gonzalo. Bellingham spins on the ball halfway into Al-Hilal’s half and the finds Gonzalo in the left channel on the left-hand side of the box. It is a narrow angle for Gonzalo and he tries to beat Bono but he cannot beat the Al-Hilal keeper.
08:38 PM BST
GOAL! Gonzalo puts Real ahead after swift counter
Whatever Xabi Alonso said during the cooling break has clearly worked. They go from one end to the other through a clinical counter. Rodrygo ends up picking out Gonzalo at the far post. The connection on the shot from Gonzalo is far from pure as he hits it into his own leg but it loops over Bono and goes into the net. 1-0 Real.
08:38 PM BST
33 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Rodrygo cuts in from the right and lets rip from just outside the box but his effort goes just over the bar.
08:34 PM BST
30 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
As we cross the 30-minute mark, it is safe to say Al-Hilal have been the better side so far and we are going to take a cooling break in the hot Miami sunshine.
08:31 PM BST
27 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Al-Hilal are causing Real plenty of problems. Koulibaly feeds the ball onto Salem, who cuts inside just inside the Real box and looks to get his shot away but just before he does Tchouameni nicks in to put the ball behind for a corner, which is then headed behind for another corner on the other side.
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Neves’ outswinger is met by Altambakti eight yards out but he cannot guide his header on target. That was a good chance.
08:27 PM BST
23 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Lodi wins a corner off Tchouameni down Al-Hilal’s left. The ball is sent in and flicked on by Milenkovic-Savic but the last touch comes off Real Madrid for another corner on the same side. Salem takes again but the delivery is poor and cleared at the front post.
08:25 PM BST
21 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Vinicius Jr makes a run into the right channel and from just inside the box cuts the ball back to Gonzalo on the edge of the area but the latter makes a mess of his shot and the chance is gone.
08:24 PM BST
19 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Al-Hilal think they are ahead as they have the ball in the net but the offside flag goes up. Alexander-Arnold loses the ball just inside his own half and Leonardo moves forward with the ball. He then plays the ball forward into the path of Lodi, who made the run forward and puts the ball past Courtois on the left-hand side of the box into the far corner. However Lodi was offside when he received the ball so the goal does not stand.
08:20 PM BST
15 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Vinicius Jr looks like he is going to be in one-on-one but goes down under a sliding challenge from Koulibaly. The referee blows his whistle but gives the free-kick to Al-Hilal for a dive by Vinicius Jr. There was no contact but he did dive over the challenge. He is booked for his troubles and is not happy with that decision. He is now just one booking away from a one-match suspension.
Vinicius Jr jumps over the challenge from Kalidou Koulibaly
Dive or no dive? - Sam Navarro/Reuters
08:19 PM BST
14 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Al-Hilal are pleading for a penalty. Former Atletico Madrid man Lodi goes up to win a header inside the Real box and Rodrygo does make contact with him. The referee waves on and VAR does take a look but sticks with the on-field call.
08:18 PM BST
12 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
That is nearly an horrendous moment for Altambakti. His pass inside his own box towards Koulibaly does not have enough weight on it and Gonzalo nicks in first. Koulibaly thinks about sliding into a challenge but thinks better of it. Gonzalo’s touch is heavy and rolls out of play but Al-Hilal will be breathing a sigh of relief.
08:14 PM BST
10 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Al-Hilal should be ahead. Cancelo stands up a cross from the right-hand side of the box to the far post. Salem then fires the ball back across goal and, from six yards out, Leonardo should put the ball into the net from a central position but his effort goes wide.
08:12 PM BST
8 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Play is halted as Valverde is down, clutching his head after an accidental clash of heads with Koulibaly. He is back on his feet but still clutching his head a little.
08:10 PM BST
5 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Real Madrid’s first sighting of goal comes from centre-back Asencio, who shoots from range but Bono makes the save.
Raul Asencio shoots from range
Early sighting for Raul Asencio - Chandan Khanna/Getty Images
08:09 PM BST
3 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
Milenkovic-Savic and Malcom stand over it and the former takes it. The shot is straight into the wall and that is a real waste.
08:07 PM BST
2 mins: Real Madrid 0 Al-Hilal 0
In possession already Alexander-Arnold has tucked inside into a central position.
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The first opportunity of the game falls to Al-Hilal as space opens up for Milenkovic-Savic outside the Real box and he shoots with his left foot. It is a fairly comfortable save for Courtois but the ball comes back to Milenkovic-Savic just outside the box. He is then hacked down by Valverde just outside the area and this is a great chance for Al-Hilal to get the opening goal of the game...
08:04 PM BST
Kick-off
We are under way in the Miami sunshine. New eras for both clubs begin.
07:57 PM BST
Welcome for the players
In a very NFL style, the starting players are introduced one by one. Real Madrid first, then Al-Hilal. What are your thoughts on that? Could it be something the Premier League adopts? You can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.
07:53 PM BST
Reminder of the teams
Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois, Trent, Asencio, Huijsen, Fran Garcia, Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr, Gonzalo.
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Substitutes: Lunin, Fran Gonzalez, Youssef, Jacobo, Modric, Chema, Arda Guler, Fortea, Lucas Vasquez, Aguado, Ceballos, Munoz, Brahim, Martin.
Al-Hilal starting XI: Bono, Cancelo, Koulibaly, Lodi, Neves, Leonardo, Al-Dawsari, Milinkovic-Savic, Salem, Malcom, Altambakti.
Substitutes: Al Bulayhi, Khalifah, Alghannam, Alqahtani, Musab, Moteb, Kanno, Hadhood, Lajaml, Hamad, Alhamddan, Alyami, Ahmed.
07:50 PM BST
Xabi Alonso speaking to DAZN
“I am really looking forward to it and a great tournament ahead. I slept pretty well last night. I am focusing on what we need to do. For the last couple of days he [Kylian Mbappe] has had a fever and has not been able to train. Hopefully he will be able to play in the next game. Trent [Alexander-Arnold] has qualities on the ball but also to defend. He is a great addition to the squad.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold warming up
Trent Alexander-Arnold makes his debut for Real Madrid - Hannah McKay/Reuters
07:45 PM BST
First foray
Xabi Alonso tended to favour a back three during his tenure at Bayer Leverkusen but it looks like a back four tonight. Something to keep an eye on.
Xabi Alonso arrives
Xabi Alonso takes charge of his first game at Real Madrid - Chandan Khanna/Getty Images
07:38 PM BST
Real Madrid fans enjoying Miami heat
07:33 PM BST
Final few weeks
Luka Modric has spent over a decade at Real Madrid but he will say goodbye to the club after this tournament and is set to join AC Milan.
Luka Modric arrives ahead of the game
Luka Modric is on the bench for Real Madrid tonight - Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
07:27 PM BST
Celebrities in the house
DJ Khaled in attendance at the game in Miami
DJ Khaled in the house - Hannah McKay/Reuters
07:24 PM BST
Group H fixtures
Today:
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal, Miami
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Pachuca vs RB Salzburg, Cincinnati
Sunday 22nd June:
Real Madrid vs Pachuca, Charlotte
RB Salzburg vs Al-Hilal, Washington DC
Friday 27th June:
Al-Hilal vs Pachuca, Nashville
RB Salzburg vs Real Madrid, Philadelphia
07:21 PM BST
Al-Hilal arriving
07:16 PM BST
Full team news
Xabi Alonso hands debuts to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen whilst there is no Kylian Mbappe in the squad due to illness.
Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois, Trent, Asencio, Huijsen, Fran Garcia, Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr, Gonzalo.
Substitutes: Lunin, Fran Gonzalez, Youssef, Jacobo, Modric, Chema, Arda Guler, Fortea, Lucas Vasquez, Aguado, Ceballos, Munoz, Brahim, Martin.
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New Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi names a number of former Premier League players in his starting side, including Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves.
Al-Hilal starting XI: Bono, Cancelo, Koulibaly, Lodi, Neves, Leonardo, Al-Dawsari, Milinkovic-Savic, Salem, Malcom, Altambakti.
Substitutes: Al Bulayhi, Khalifah, Alghannam, Alqahtani, Musab, Moteb, Kanno, Hadhood, Lajaml, Hamad, Alhamddan, Alyami, Ahmed.
07:10 PM BST
Today’s fixtures
Group E:
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan
Group F:
Ulsan 0-1 Mamelodi
Group G:
Manchester City 2-0 Wydad
Group H:
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal 8pm
Pachuca vs RB Salzburg 11pm
07:05 PM BST
Al-Hilal team news
07:04 PM BST
Real Madrid team news
07:00 PM BST
Match preview
A new era at Real Madrid begins this evening in Miami as they take on Al-Hilal in their opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup in Group H. Former Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, who spent five years as a player at Real, has taken over the reins from Carlo Ancelotti, who is now the Brazil national team boss. Real Madrid finished runners-up to Barcelona in La Liga, lost in the Copa del Rey final and were knocked out by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.
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Not only have Real welcomed a new manager in recent weeks, they have also added a couple of players from the Premier League. Trent Alexander-Arnold has joined from Liverpool whilst they have also added Spanish centre-half Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. Speaking ahead of what is set to be his debut for Real, Alexander-Arnold has spoken to the Real club website about the welcome he has received and excitement for the tournament.
“I feel really good and I am happy to be here, to be honest. I cannot say enough good things about the guys and how they have made me feel welcome. They have gone out of their way to talk to me. They have made me feel comfortable, making sure they answer every question I have, especially with translations. They have helped me a lot with everything, so I cannot thank them enough.
Trent Alexander-Arnold arrives ahead of the game in Miami
Trent Alexander-Arnold set to make his Real debut this evening - Hannah McKay/Reuters
“That has been important for me, being able to come here, spend time in the hotel, training on the pitch. The time you spend with the team helps you integrate, so for Dean (Huijsen) and me, it is ideal to be around everyone, getting to know each other, understanding each other’s personalities, and integrating as well as possible. We are very happy to be here and excited to get started with the matches, too.”
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Al-Hilal, the most successful side in Saudi Pro League history, finished second in their league to Al-Ittihad and have made a managerial change of their own as they have appointed former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi, who did lead Inter Milan to the Champions League final at the end of last month. In their playing ranks include former Chelsea centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, ex-Manchester City man Joao Cancelo, former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves and ex-Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi arrives at the stadium in Miami
Simone Inzaghi has swapped Italy for Saudi Arabia - Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
These sides have met once previously in the Club World Cup final back in 2022, with Real running out 5-3 winners. Pachuca and RB Salzburg form the rest of Group H and they play each other later this evening in Cincinnati. Kick-off from Miami is at 8pm BST.