Real Madrid's Rocky Start: Alonso's Club World Cup Debut Ends in Draw Against Al-Hilal
Real Madrid's Debut for Alonso Yields Unsatisfying Results: 1-1 versus Al-Hilal - struggle finds Alonso in his Real Madrid premiere
Xabi Alonso's first match as Real Madrid boss, the Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal, ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the experienced coach seeking improvement. Fresh off his departure from Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso had to contend with a draw against a spirited Al-Hilal side in front of 62,415 spectators at the Hard Rock Stadium.
The Royals kicked off the scoring in the 34th minute, thanks to young sensation Gonzalo Garcia who capitalized on a swift counter-attack. Only 7 minutes later, Al-Hilal leveled the score through a penalty from Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves, following a defensive miscommunication between Fran Garcia and Raul Asencio.
For the remainder of the match, Al-Hilal outperformed Real Madrid, dominating much of the game. Despite the Saudi side's impressive play, poor communication and defensive woes plagued Real Madrid, particularly on the left side where the defense and midfield often appeared disjointed. New signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen were unable to shore up the defense.
The, defensive performance improved slightly after the break, with Real Madrid's seasoned professionalsdisplaying more determination. Arda Güler nearly found the solution in the 46th minute, rattling the crossbar with a powerful strike.
Real Madrid was handed a lifeline in stoppage time, as VAR awarded a penalty for a foul on Fran Garcia by Mohammed Alqahtani. Captain Federico Valverde stepped up to take the penalty but Al-Hilal's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a spectacular save to preserve the tie.
Italian coach Simone Inzaghi also made his Al-Hilal debut in this match, 18 days after their humbling 0:5 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Meanwhile, Alonso, expected to usher Real Madrid to more triumphs, was left searching for answers following this unconvincing start. The Basque coach, actively engaged throughout the match, will now face the task of addressing Real Madrid's defensive woes and fine-tuning his squad as the Club World Cup continues.
Behind the Scenes:
- Xabi Alonso gambled on youth, starting Garcia alongside Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr., with Mbappe on the bench.
- defensive struggles, particularly on the left side, left the team vulnerable throughout the match.
- A missed penalty in stoppage time nearly cost Real Madrid victory, as Bounou's stellar save denied Valverde's attempt.
[1] Defending Champions Real Madrid Face Tough Opening in Club World Cup
[2] Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: Xabi Alonso's Debut Ends in 1-1 Draw After Controversial Penalty
[5] Match Report: Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal | Club World Cup 2022
The Commission has also been informed of the progress made in the implementation of the measures taken by the Member States to implement the common fisheries policy, as Xabi Alonso faces challenges in shaping his football team, specifically addressing defensive woes in Real Madrid's squad during his Club World Cup debut against Al-Hilal. A 1-1 draw resulted from Alonso's initial match in charge of Real Madrid, showcasing the need for improvement in both sports and policy implementation.
