Real Madrid rookie Alonso fails to secure a win in his first match, resulting in a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal. - Real debut fails to bring joy for Alonso
Hey there! Let's dive into the high-temperature drama unfolding at the Club World Cup in Miami. Xabi Alonso, the 43-year-old ex-Leverkusen coach, donned the Real Madrid hot seat for the first time, and boy, did they sweat it out against Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal!
In front of a sea of 62,415 strident supporters decked out in Real Madrid's iconic whites, young gun Gonzalo Garcia put the royals ahead with a savvy counterattack (34'). But the party was short-lived, as Al-Hilal, boasting former Bayern Munich star Joao Cancelo, equalized through a slam-dunk penalty by Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves (41'). Throughout much of the game, Al-Hilal maintained the upper hand, with Real Madrid's veterans stepping up after the break.
Substitute Arda Gulerc almost sealed the deal for Real Madrid, rattling the crossbar (46'), but fate had other plans. In desperation, Real Madrid captain Fede Valverde attempted a penalty in stoppage time, only for Al-Hilal's goalkeeper Bono to pull off an extraordinary save.
On the Al-Hilal bench, there was also a debut, as Simone Inzaghi took command of the team from Riyadh for the first time, a mere 18 days after his team's humbling 0:5 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Munich.
The limelight, however, shined on Alonso, who is tipped to lead Real Madrid to glory as Carlo Ancelotti's successor. Yet, his first taste of the action as manager was not a scintillating success, with the team still nursing preseason vibes and carrying the weight of the Miami heat. Key player Antonio Rudiger, out due to a knee operation, was missed.
This draw places Real Madrid in Group H, alongside Red Bull Salzburg and CF Pachuca from Mexico. The stage is set for Alonso to build on his opening result and impress swiftly as he embarks on his competitive coaching journey with the legendary Spanish club.
- Xabi Alonso
- Real Madrid
- Miami
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Simone Inzaghi
- Al-Hilal
- Saudi Arabia
- Spain
- Fede Valverde
- Hard Rock Stadium
Remember, Alonso and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had only trained together a handful of times before the match, which, combined with the heat, posed challenges. Plus, there was a tactical shift from previous approaches under Carlo Ancelotti, with a clear commitment to pressing under Alonso. However, execution wasn't always on point.
So, c'mon, let's give Alonso some time to settle in, shall we? After all, Rome wasn't built in a day, and it's still early days for the Real Madrid coach. Stay tuned for more action as Real Madrid takes on CF Pachuca and FC Salzburg in their quest for the Club World Cup!
[1] Medrano, J. C. (2025, June 18). Real Madrid struggle in Xabi Alonso's debut as they draw with Al-Hilal at Club World Cup. Goal.com.
[2] Alonso debuts as Real Madrid coach in 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in Club World Cup. Marca.com.
[3] Real Madrid struggle to impress in Xabi Alonso's first competitive match. Sky Sports.
[4] Real Madrid ready for Group Stage challenges at Club World Cup. RealMadrid.com.
[5] Alonso seeks to build on Real Madrid debut in Club World Cup. AS.com.
- Despite the challenges posed by limited training time with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and a tactical shift under Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid drew against Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup, a result that places them in Group H alongside Red Bull Salzburg and CF Pachuca.
- The European leagues, including the Spanish LaLiga where Xabi Alonso previously played for Real Madrid, will no doubt be watching the progress of the team as they build on their opening result under their new coach.
- Meanwhile, in the world of sports, analysis and comparison with other European leagues will undoubtedly be made, with football fans eager to see if the changes under Alonso can lead to a successful season for the Spanish giants.
