Real Madrid were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal on Wednesday night after Federico Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty, denying new manager Xabi Alonso a winning start in his first official match in charge.
The Group F contest, played before 62,415 fans at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, was a tightly contested affair that showcased resilience from the Saudi side and growing pains for Alonso’s Madrid.
Al-Hilal, led by debuting manager Simone Inzaghi, came into the match as underdogs but quickly made it clear they were not intimidated. The Saudi giants began with intensity, unsettling Madrid’s defence early on.
In the 19th minute, Salem Aldawsari sent a volley back into the penalty area, where striker Marcos Leonardo narrowly missed converting with a shot that flew just wide.
Their persistence paid off briefly when Renan Lodi found the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled offside. Aldawsari, whose decisive goal against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup remains iconic, again used his speed to break free but fired wide as Madrid breathed a sigh of relief.
Gradually, Real Madrid regained their composure. Rodrygo came close to breaking the deadlock in the 31st minute with a curling shot that soared over the crossbar. Just minutes later, Madrid’s counter-attacking prowess was on full display.
Gonzalo, filling in for the absent Kylian Mbappe, initiated a move deep in his own half and completed it with a well-timed run into the box, capping it off by meeting Rodrygo’s low cross with a neat finish to put Madrid ahead in the 34th minute.
Despite conceding, Al-Hilal remained lively and were rewarded shortly before halftime when Raul Asencio was penalised for pulling down Marcos Leonardo inside the area. Ruben Neves stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty to bring the Saudis level.
Madrid returned from the break with renewed urgency. Turkish wonderkid Arda Guler was brought on and nearly made an instant impact, rattling the crossbar with a brilliant volley from a Vinicius Jr. delivery. Gonzalo also tested Yassine Bounou with a powerful header, and Valverde saw his long-range effort go inches wide.
However, Al-Hilal weathered the storm and regained composure, creating a few more chances through Marcos Leonardo, who was unable to capitalise. Just when it looked like the match would end in a draw, Real Madrid were awarded a penalty with minutes left in regular time after Mohammed Al Qahtani was adjudged to have impeded Fran Garcia with a hand to the face.
Valverde stepped up but was denied by Bounou, who guessed correctly and dove to keep the game level, earning his side a valuable point.
Al-Hilal’s coach Inzaghi was full of praise for his players. “It was a good match for my team. They played very well. We played an excellent, organised team game. Together, we stood up to Real Madrid, which I think is one of the three strongest teams in the world. I am very satisfied,” he said.
He added that while he had confidence in his squad ahead of the game, their execution and composure on such a big stage exceeded expectations. “A performance like this, also thinking about what is to come, makes me very happy as a coach,” Inzaghi remarked.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, reflecting on the match, admitted his team struggled early on but responded positively after halftime. “In the first half, we were lacking a lot of things, with and without the ball. I think we lost the ball too quickly; we didn’t have much balance,” Alonso said.
He added, “I liked the reaction at half-time. We were able to give the game another meaning, another rhythm, and have more people giving it a good pause and good control of the game.”
Despite the draw, both sides took valuable lessons from the encounter, with Al-Hilal walking away with their confidence bolstered and Madrid aware of areas needing immediate improvement under their new manager.
What You Should Know
Real Madrid, under new manager Xabi Alonso, were held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Hilal after Federico Valverde missed a late penalty. Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal impressed with their energy and tactical discipline, while Alonso acknowledged Madrid’s first-half struggles but praised their second-half response.
