Real Madrid’s first match under new coach Xabi Alonso ended in a 1-1 draw against Saudi club Al-Hilal. In a nail-biting finish, Fede Valverde missed a crucial penalty that could have won the game.
Despite the coaching change, Real Madrid’s performance showed little immediate improvement. Alonso admitted that it would take time to settle in and that overnight transformations are impossible.
In the Club World Cup Group H match on Wednesday, both teams scored in the first half, ending level at 1-1.
Like Alonso, Al-Hilal’s coach Simone Inzaghi was also leading his side for the first time.
The match’s only two goals came in the opening 45 minutes. In the dying moments, Real had a golden chance to snatch victory, but Valverde—who had been quiet throughout—failed to convert a penalty. Al-Hilal’s goalkeeper Yassin Bono dived to his right to save the spot-kick.
Kylian Mbappé was absent due to fever, so Alonso opted to start with the young, inexperienced forward Gonzalo García, who ended up scoring Real’s only goal.
In the 34th minute at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, the academy graduate received a brilliant pass from Rodrygo during a swift counterattack and delicately chipped the ball over the goalkeeper to score.
Al-Hilal leveled the score seven minutes later when Brazilian forward Mahkuz Leonhadu was brought down inside the box by Real’s defender Raúl Asensio. Ruben Neves calmly converted the resulting penalty.
After halftime, Real came close again. Arda Güler’s shot from Vinicius Junior’s assist hit the crossbar. The Saudi side failed to clear the ball, and Gonzalo headed another chance, but Bono made a strong save.
In the final moments, Real missed their second chance from the penalty spot.
New signing Trent Alexander-Arnold, making his debut after joining from Liverpool, struggled and was substituted during the match. Another debutant defender, Dean Hausen, performed well and showed promising signs.
Throughout the game, Real appeared disorganized and lacking sharpness, still under the shadow of a disappointing season under Carlo Ancelotti. After the match, coach Alonso emphasized that things take time.
“We played much better in the second half than the first. The first half had many flaws. There was a lack of coordination. We discussed that. Then the way the team responded in the second half, I liked it. The rhythm was good, we kept control, and we played more in the opponent’s half. We need to build on these positives and improve going forward. It’s a process.”
“I knew it would take some time. Everything needs time. We have things to change, things to fix, and we will do it. We have worked only nine days here, and some players have had just three training sessions. Everything can’t happen overnight.”
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also said the team would need time to adjust after Ancelotti’s long tenure.
“The new coach wants to play his way, defend differently, and attack differently. We played under Ancelotti for four years, so naturally some habits remain. We have to change them according to the new coach’s ideas.”
“That can’t happen in four days. We’re trying, watching videos, talking a lot, and of course, we will improve. We will learn a lot from the first match.”
On the other side, Al-Hilal’s coach Simone Inzaghi was naturally delighted.
“It was a very good match. The boys played well-organized football and showed great mentality against a team I consider one of the world’s top three. I couldn’t ask more from them.”
Real Madrid’s next match is on Sunday against Mexican club Pachuca. Al-Hilal will face Salzburg on the same day.
