Real Madrid's Federico Valverde kneels on the pitch in despair after missing a penalty kick against Al-Hilal in a Group H match at the FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA, June 18, 2025. /VCG
Real Madrid's Federico Valverde kneels on the pitch in despair after missing a penalty kick against Al-Hilal in a Group H match at the FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA, June 18, 2025. /VCG
Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in new coach Xabi Alonso's debut at the FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday, after Manchester City got off to a winning start earlier.
Federico Valverde had a stoppage-time penalty saved as Real were forced to settle for one point in the Group H match in Miami, having earlier taken the lead.
It was a disappointing outcome for the large contingent of fans supporting the Spanish side in the impressive crowd of 62,415 at the Hard Rock Stadium.
"The first half wasn't as good as the second one. In the second half we had better chances, better control. For sure we have the principles to start building something but we could have won," Alonso told broadcaster DAZN.
The former Bayer Leverkusen coach gave debuts to new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen in his defensive alignment, but Los Blancos were missing top scorer Kylian Mbappe due to illness.
With the French superstar ailing, Gonzalo Garcia was brought in on attack, and the 21-year-old seized his chance by opening the scoring just after the half-hour mark off a pass from Rodrygo.
Al-Hilal soon hit back in their new coach Simone Inzaghi's first game on the bench, with Ruben Neves leveling before halftime from the penalty spot, following a foul by Raul Asencio.
The Saudi side then held out for a point, but Real Madrid had a chance to claim victory in stoppage time after Mohammed Al Qahtani was ruled to have put his hand in the face of Fran Garcia in the box.
Valverde's kick from the spot was saved by Yassine Bounou, however, earning Al-Hilal a draw after a hugely credible performance.
Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates after scoring a goal against Wydad Casablanca in a Group G match at the Club World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, USA, June 18, 2025. /VCG
Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates after scoring a goal against Wydad Casablanca in a Group G match at the Club World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, USA, June 18, 2025. /VCG
In Philadelphia, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku scored first-half goals as Manchester City eased to a 2-0 win against Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in Group G.
City gave debuts to new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki before Foden opened the scoring in the second minute, sweeping home inside the box after goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid erroneously patted a cross from Savinho into his path.
Doku converted the second goal from Foden's corner kick shortly before halftime, in a game played in sweaty early afternoon conditions in front of 37,446 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.
The afternoon was slightly marred for City when Rico Lewis was sent off for a dangerous tackle in the latter stages, but manager Pep Guardiola was satisfied with the winning start, as the English side look to turn the page following a difficult 2024-25 season.
"It is so hot. The humidity is not easy. We had good moments, many new players. The first game in this group stage is always really, really important. I saw many, many good things," said Guardiola, who suggested he will make sweeping changes for the next match against Al-Ain in Atlanta on Sunday.
"The first step is done, it is really important. Now we have recovery, we are going to train well in the next few days, and then fresh legs for the next game to try to improve things," Guardiola added. "We have a lot of new players, injured players back, and step by step we will get to the right tempo."
The day's other match in Group G saw Italian giants Juventus crush the UAE's Al-Ain 5-0 in Washington, while Austrian side Salzburg edged Mexico's Pachuca 2-1 in Group H in Cincinnati.
Source(s): AFP