**Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal kicked off their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a resilient 1–1 draw against Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 18. In stark contrast, Italian titans Juventus dismantled UAE’s Al-Ain with a commanding 5–0 win at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.**
Despite finishing second in the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League and missing their marquee forward Neymar, who exited the club mid-season, Al-Hilal fielded a star-studded lineup that included the likes of Yassine Bounou, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Rúben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, and João Cancelo, alongside Saudi national team mainstays Salem Al-Dawsari, Mohamed Kanno, and Mohammed Al-Qahtani. Their collective effort was enough to match Real Madrid’s array of stars on the night.
The match also marked the managerial debuts of Simone Inzaghi and Xabi Alonso for Al-Hilal and Real Madrid respectively. New Madrid signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen were also handed their first starts.
Gonzalo García gave Madrid a 1–0 lead in the 34th minute with a sharp counterattack finish, but Al-Hilal responded swiftly. A clumsy foul by Raúl Asencio on Marcos Leonardo inside the box led to a penalty, which Rúben Neves confidently dispatched in the 41st minute.
Madrid pressed hard for a winner in the second half, but Bounou delivered a heroic performance in goal—capping it off with a dramatic penalty save from Federico Valverde in stoppage time to preserve the draw.
While Al-Hilal showcased their ability to compete with Europe’s elite, the same could not be said for Al-Ain, who were overwhelmed by Juventus. Though Al-Ain were crowned AFC Champions League winners in the 2023/24 season, their 2025 Club World Cup opener was a humbling experience.
Fielding familiar names like Soufiane Rahimi, Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba, and newly signed goalkeeper Rui Patrício, Al-Ain were powerless against a rampant Juventus side. Randal Kolo Muani struck twice in the first half, joined by Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceição, giving Juve a 4–0 lead at halftime. Conceição added his second and Juve’s fifth in the 58th minute, sealing an emphatic victory.
The result continued a rough start for Asian representatives at this year’s tournament, following [opening losses for Urawa Red Diamonds and Ulsan HD the previous day](https://football-tribe.com/asia/2025/06/18/urawa-ulsan-start-cwc-campaign-with-defeats/). With only Al-Hilal securing points so far, the pressure is on Asia’s remaining contenders to restore pride in the coming fixtures.