Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold did not get off to the best of starts in the white of Los Blancos after his acrimonious Liverpool exit.
Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal held Madrid to a 1-1 stalemate in their opening FIFA Club World Cup fixture.
As expected, the 26-year-old was defensively suspect, especially in the opening exchanges.
Madrid struggled to come to grips with the movement of the Middle Eastern giants under new boss Simone Inzaghi.
Alexander-Arnold won only one of his four ground duels and lost his only aerial challenge.
There was one particularly worrisome sequence in the 21st minute where Al Hilal ran rings around the Englishman.
On 29, Renan Lodi got in behind Alexander-Arnold to score, but the officials chalked it off for offside.
Alexander-Arnold played one key pass and completed three of five long balls attempted.
He made more final-third entries (12) and had more passes in the final third of the pitch (16) than any of his teammates.
However, he lost possession 12 times (the most of any Madrid player) and connected only one of his five attempted crosses.
It was not the finest debut outing for the former Liverpool man, who was subbed off after 64 minutes, or his team, as Real Madrid failed to win their opening game.
This match was their first Club World Cup game that did not end in victory. They had won all of their previous 11 games in the competitions.
Al Hilal were dominant in the early exchanges upon their return to the competition after a 25-year absence and took the game to Xabi Alonso’s side.
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But Madrid took the lead through talented Castilla striker Gonzalo Garcia.
The Saudi League giants equalised via Ruben Neves from the penalty spot following a foul by Raul Asencio.
Real Madrid had an opportunity to seal the win in the dying moments after VAR awarded the 15-time UEFA Champions League winners a penalty.
Unfortunately for Madrid, Yassine Bounou kept out Federico Valverde’s effort.
Alonso and Madrid turn their attention to Sunday when they face Pachuca before a final group-stage clash with RB Salzburg.