Struggling Debut for Alonso: Initial Days Prove Challenging
Laid-back Take:
Miami (dpa) – Xabi Alonso's first gig as Real Madrid's boss wasn't exactly a party. A mere month after ditching Bayer Leverkusen, the 43-year-old had to settle for a draw against Saudi's Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup opener. The scoreline read 1:1 (1:1) with Real captain Fede Valverde choking on a last-minute penalty, saved by the stellar goalie Bono.
Football enthusiasts at the blazing hot (33°C) Hard Rock Stadium, mostly sporting Real's iconic white, witnessed youngster Gonzalo Garcia firing up the Royal Blues early with a swift counterattack (34'). Al-Hilal, boasting ex-Bayern star João Cancelo, battled hard for parity, and Neves, the Portuguese midfielder, clinched it through a penalty kick (41'). Al-Hilal generally outclassed Real for most of the showdown. Post-halftime, Real's veterans upped their game a notch. Sub Arda Güler rattled the crossbar (46').
About Inzaghi and Al-Hilal
There was another debut happening on Al-Hilal's bench, a mere three weeks after the brutal 0:5 loss against PSG in the Champions League final. The Riyadh-based squad, led by the new man in charge, Simone Inzaghi, put up a fight. However, with all eyes glued on Alonso (who's anticipated to energize Real toward more titles as Carlo Ancelotti's successor), it was his team that wasn't quite impressing. Germany's Antonio Rüdiger, out due to a knee op, added to their problems. Real's other adversaries in Group H are Salzburg and Mexico's Pachuca.
Alonso, though active on the sidelines, seemed less than thrilled with the team's performance during the Club World Cup 2023. His appointment as Real Madrid's first-team coach officially happened in May 2025, and he didn't manage them for this specific tournament because his Real Madrid tenure began only after the Club World Cup 2023 event concluded. Before this, Alonso held coaching positions in Real Madrid's youth academy and in other clubs, but none of them were as the senior team coach for Real Madrid during the 2023 Club World Cup.
In the European football scene, Simone Inzaghi's debut with Al-Hilal was coincidental with Xabi Alonso's early days as Real Madrid's manager, a position he officially took up in May 2025, post the Club World Cup 2023. With Real Madrid's performance in the Club World Cup 2023 not particularly impressive, football fans may eagerly anticipate how Alonso will steer the team towards more titles, similar to the success of European leagues like LaLiga. Despite the current setbacks, Real Madrid will face tough competition in other groups, specifically from teams like Salzburg and Pachuca, not forgetting other formidable champions-league contenders.
