Real Madrid's Alonso found no enjoyment in his initial match against Al-Hilal, resulting in a 1-1 tie. - Struggling in Real Madrid Premier: Alonso's Unenjoyable Debut Experience
Footie Showdown: Alonso's Real Madrid Debut Marred by 1-1 Tie Against Al-Hilal
Are you ready to kick off the action? Xabi Alonso's premiere as Real Madrid manager didn't quite pan out as planned. Having hung up his boots since 2017, the 43-year-old was left to settle for a 1:1 draw in the Club World Cup against Al-Hilal in Miami. The match, played in front of 62,415 energetic spectators at the Hard Rock Stadium, showcased a plethora of thrilling moments and critical lineup selections that set the stage for Alonso's early reign.
Fede Valverde, the team's captain, missed an injury-time penalty, with goalkeeper Bono from Al-Hilal making a stellar save. A counterattack goal from Real Madrid's young hopeful, Gonzalo Garcia (34' replacement for Kylian Mbappe who was out due to illness), initially gave the Royal Whites the edge.
Al-Hilal, led by former Bayern Munich defender Joao Cancelo, fought hard to secure a well-deserved equalizer (41' penalty effort courtesy of Ruben Neves). To say that Al-Hilal proved a tough cookie to crack would be an understatement. After the break, the Real Madrid squad tried their best to step it up a notch, but a close call from substitute Arda Guler hitting the crossbar (46') was about as close as they could get.
With Al-Hilal's manager Simone Inzaghi making his debut on the bench (having joined the team from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, just 18 days prior), all eyes remained on Alonso, expected to guide Real Madrid to more glory as Carlo Ancelotti's successor. The Basque coach was seen in lively action on the sidelines, though he appeared unimpressed by his team's less-than-stellar performance, still missing German international Antonio Rudiger due to a knee operation.
With Red Bull Salzburg and CF Pachuca from Mexico standing as their other opponents in Group H, it remains to be seen whether the Real Madrid roster can find their groove and snatch a trophy under Alonso's command.
Newcomers Trent Alexander-Arnold, previously of Liverpool, and Dean Huijsen, who recently joined from Juventus, both made their debuts in a reshuffled defense. Playing against the formidable Al-Hilal, Alonso demonstrated a willingness to entrust inexperienced players like Gonzalo Garcia, potentially indicative of a youth-oriented strategy combined with periodic squad rotation.
Despite the challenging first encounter, Alonso's early approach appears daunting, as the team grapples with delicate defensively, weak connections between their defense and midfield, and an apparent need to adjust to new teammates due to limited preparation time. Nonetheless, the new coach's ambitious drive and talent search offer a tantalizing prospect for Real Madrid fans in the future. Let's hope the next match proves to be a real gem!
| Category | Details ||------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|| Result | 1-1 draw vs Al-Hilal || Debutants | Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Gonzalo Garcia (starting lineup) || Key Absences | Mbappé (illness), injuries to Camavinga, Mendy, Endrick, Carvajal, Militão, Rüdiger || Defense | Weak, miscommunication, conceded penalty || Attack | Garcia's goal a positive, performance limited by absent talents || Managerial Approach | Forward-thinking, entrusting youth, potential squad rotation |
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. Xabi Alonso, who debuted as Real Madrid manager in a Club World Cup match against Al-Hilal, showed a willingness to entrust inexperienced players like Gonzalo Garcia, potentially indicative of a youth-oriented strategy combined with periodic squad rotation.
