That’s it from me! That was a fun one, thanks to everyone for your emails and comments, even the ones that contained completely terrible puns.
Stay tuned for Barney Ronay’s report on the draw, on-site from Hard Rock Stadium. And of course, stay tuned to the Guardian for all the latest from the Club World Cup.
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Final: Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved a dramatic late penalty as Al-Hilal held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in both teams’ opening match of the Club World Cup on a hot afternoon in Miami.
Trent Alexander-Arnold made his debut for Real Madrid and had some good moments, with academy product Gonzalo García scoring the opener for the Spanish side just after the first-half cooling break. Rúben Neves later equalized via spot kick for Al-Hilal, who had the better of large parts of the game even as they narrowly escaped defeat.
The game’s decisive moment came as Al-Hilal defender Mohammed Al-Qahtani fought off Real Madrid defender Fran García, raising his arm in the penalty area and making contact with García’s face. The penalty, awarded after VAR review, was taken by Federico Valverde but Bounou capped a fine display by saving low to his right.
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90+10 min: Somehow, we’re in the 10th minute of seven minutes of added time, and Real Madrid has a corner. It bounces around in the box a bit, but is cleared.
90+6 min: A corner for Real Madrid thansk to Bono taking longer than eight seconds to put the ball back in play, but Tchouaméni heads it out of play.
By the way, there are seven minutes of added time.
90+3 min: What a huge moment that was. The Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine “Bono” Bounou, who was so good for his country during their amazing run in 2022, has come up big once again in a World Cup.
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Penalty saved!
Bono gets down well to his right to save Valverde’s effort in the 90th minute! Wow!
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Penalty!
After a VAR intervention, Mohammed Al-Qahtani is judged to have elbowed Fran García in the face in the penalty area as the ball bounced outside it.
The Al-Hilal players are incensed. Federico Valverde will take the spot kick …
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88 min: Some suspicion of a penalty here in the closing moments of regular time, as an Al-Hilal defender swings his arm and smashed Fran García in the face in the penalty area.
The referee is now being sent to the monitor …
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86 min: Al-Hilal have parked the bus. There are 10 men behind the ball, with attempts to create chances on the break.
83 min: A couple subs for some key Al-Hilal players: Renan Lodi and Marcos Leonardo are off. Moteb Al-Harbi and Musab Al-Juwayr are on.
Oh, and in addition: Luka Modric is on the field for Real Madrid. Jude Bellingham taken off.
Let’s see if the Croatian can make a difference in the final few minutes.
80 min: Vinicius Jr’s game is done, with Victor Muñoz coming on in his place.
Also, Luka Modric looks to be getting his shinpads on.
75 min: Whether it’s the heat, the standard flow of a match, or some combination of those and other factors, the pace of this one has slowed considerably. With 15 minutes left to play and both teams dug in, it feels like if there’s a breakthrough it’ll come via set piece.
72 min: Chance! Al-Hilal have a great chance through Marcos Leonardo on a cutback, but his effort on goal sails harmlessly high of the crossbar.
70 min: A cooling break. The shadows have descended upon the Hard Rock Stadium, but it is still quite hot.
65 min: More subs – Al-Hilal has taken off João Cancelo and Malcom, bringing on Hamad Alyami and Mohammed Al-Qahtani.
65 min: That’s it for Trent Alexander-Arnold. The former Liverpool man’s Real Madrid debut ends with a sub for Lucas Vásquez. Also, Rodrygo heads off and is replaced by Brahim Díaz.
All in all, a decent debut for Alexander-Arnold, even if it didn’t produce a definitive moment.
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58 min: A nice moment for Jude Bellingham on the right, cutting inside of his defender and firing in a dangerous ball. But that moment springs a counterattack the other way, as Trent Alexander-Arnold hoofs it to catch up to Salem Al-Dawsari just before he puts an attempt on goal.
53 min: It initially looked like Real Madrid might be playing with three at the back after the half-time sub, but out of possession they look to be defending with four at the back, with Tchouameni dropping to partner Huijsen at center back. In possession, one of Alexander-Arnold or Fran García are joining the attack at will.
51 min: Federico Valverde attempts an ambitious shot from the top of the penalty area, but it goes wide.
46 min: Crazy sequence! Vinicius Jr finds Güler’s run at the penalty spot, but his finish hits the crossbar. As the ball recycles back to Vinicius, he hits another cross that Gonzalo García rises well to head on goal, only to be foiled by a reaction save from Bono. Wow.
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46 min: We are back!
Midfielder Arda Güler comes on in place of defender Raúl Asencio. That, obviously, is not a like-for-like – we’ll likely see Real move to a three-man backline.
The teams are out for the second half, and it looks like there will be at least one change to report on the Real Madrid side.
Readers have gotten in touch with not one, but two Yassine Bounou (AKA Bono) gags.
From Andy:
Al-Hilal haven’t just got Bono, with the equaliser just before half-time they also have the Edge. Sorry.
You should be.
From Peter:
Despite Bono taking Hard Rock by storm, it’s clear that Gianni Infantino and Fifa still haven’t found what they’re looking for.
Better … slightly.
Please do not turn my inbox into a parade of these.
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Reader Edward gets in touch:
The players seem to be managing the heat reasonably well, but Xabi Alonso looks absolutely miserable. Every cut to him has him wiping his face. I’ll chalk it up to the US summer and not any concern about Real Madrid’s funk continuing into next season.
Probably right – if anything, this Real Madrid performance resembles so much of what made them so good in recent seasons. Staying in games even when being outplayed, and pouncing on their chances.
Half-time: Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
The referee blows the whistle and the teams go into the locker room even at a goal apiece. Plenty for both teams to adjust during the break in what has been a reasonably exciting match, despite the heat.
45 min+: Chance! Salem Al-Dawsari connects on a run through the heart of the Real Madrid defense, but his finish curls just beyond the post.
He’s been matched up against Trent Alexander-Arnold for much of this first half, and it’s been a tight battle.
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Goal! Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal (Neves, 41)
Rúben Neves calmly dispatches from the spot to Courtois’ left, and we’re level not long before half-time.
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40 min: Penalty to Al-Hilal! Raúl Asencio wraps his arms around Marcos Leonardo, who drops to a heap. Not a lot of complaints from Asencio or his team-mates…
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37 min: Real Madrid are cooking all of a sudden. Dean Huijsen plays a nice progressive ball to Jude Bellingham, who turned and instantly found García. Bono got down well to take the ball off his feet.
35 min: That was a clinical counterattack from Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold started it off, with the ball working its way through Valverde, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo, who put in a perfectly placed service into the box to find an onrushing García. The Real Madrid youth product didn’t have the cleanest finish, but his little chip landed in the back of the net all the same.
Goal! Real Madrid 1-0 Al-Hilal (García, 34)
The youngster, in his first senior start, scores the opening goal on a breakaway!
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33 min: We’re back from the cooling break, and Real Madrid are instantly on the front foot. Rodrygo fires an effort from 20 yards and had some zip on it, but goes over the bar. That’s a bit more like it for the Spanish side.
30 min: Cooling break! The players head to their benches to get some drinks and cold towels. Presumably, Real Madrid will be discussing how to recover from this less-than-ideal start.
26 min: Another chance for Al-Hilal. Real Madrid, static in possession, turn over the ball at midfield and the Saudi side were immediately on the break. The ball eventually came to Salem Al-Dawsari on the breakaway, but he ball was poked away just as he was winding up for the finish.
22 min: However you slice it, Al-Hilal has had the better of this match so far. They’re finding space on Real Madrid’s flanks, controlling posession, breaking up Real’s forays forward, and crafting decent looks on goal.
19 min: Goal disallowed! Renan Lodi breaks free down Real Madrid’s right flank and finishes nicely from a narrow angle against Courtois….but he’s ruled offside. The right call, made quickly. Unfortunate for Al-Hilal.
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16 min: This game had a promising opening five minutes or so but there’s been basically no flow for the last 10 minutes. A lot of fouls, injuries, balls out of play…
15 min: We have our first yellow card of the match, and it goes to Vini Jr for simulation. A good call – Koulibaly slid in with Vini on the run, but the Brazilian clearly dove over the challenge to try and earn a free kick.
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13 min: Another stoppage in play, as Renan Lodi is laid out in an aerial challenge with Rodrygo. He, too, is now back up if a little hobbled.
10 min: Wow, a great chance for Al-Hilal goes wasted. Cancelo’s run down the right flank ends with a cross to Al-Dawsary, who hits a nice first-time service to the penalty spot to Marco Leonardo, whose attempt goes just wide. A close call.
8 min: Federico Valverde needs some attention after a clash of heads. He’s off to the side now getting treatment, but there doesn’t seem to be much concern that he’ll be out long.
4 min: Milinković-Savić’s freekick slams against the Real Madrid wall, and Rúben Neves’ follow-up goes wide. A lively start to this one! Let’s see how long it lasts.
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2 min: Already, we have a chance! Milenkovic-Savic fires a shot from distance that Thibaut Courtois saves. The referee gives a freekick for a foul right on the edge of the penalty area…
We are underway!
The match kicks off with an ad for Hisense circling around the field, proclaiming their air conditioners to be the “MVP of Cooling.” I can’t tell if that’s apt or a taunt.
The teams have huddled together, the managers have shaken hands, everyone on the field is already sweating ….let’s do this.
Reader Jason has a word:
I’m not a Real Madrid fan. Honestly, I just want all these players to avoid heatstroke and injury. Playing this game at 3pm local time in Miami is logistical malpractice.
Accuweather currently has the temperature in Miami at 90F / 32C, with a “RealFeel” of closer to 101F / 38C. Brutal.
Reader Peter gets in touch:
I hope you will get the chance to interview the former Liverpool man who is about to make his Real Madrid debut, because ‘Alexander Abnos asks Alexander-Arnold’ has a nice ring to it.
I have to say … I don’t hate it!
I care very little about these two clubs and this tournament, but am curious how Trent will do, shouting at his new teammates in flawless Scousespañol.
If ever there was a time for a “mic’d up” segment, it’s this.
The teams are heading out on to the field – and by “teams,” I mean “each individual player on each team, one by one” as Fifa continues with its player-by-player introductions with the associated light show.
We’re over a dozen games into this thing and it still feels weird.
Real Madrid fans:
What do you want to see from the new signings on the backline today?
Or, by chance, are you more interested to see how Gonzalo García works with first-choice support?
Al-Hilal's XI
Some names you might recognize and some names you might not pepper Simone Inzaghi’s lineup for Al-Hilal, who qualified for the CWC thanks to winning the 2021 AFC Champions League.
Morocco international Yassine Bounou, commonly known as Bono, starts in goal.
In front of him, it’s a backline of João Cancelo at right back, Renan Lodi at left back, and a center back pairing of Saudi Arabia international Hassan Altambakti and former Chelsea and Napoli man Kalidou Koulibaly.
In midfield, it’s Salem Al-Dawsari, Nasser Al-Dawsari (no relation), Sergej Milinković-Savić, Rúben Neves, and Malcom.
22-year-old Brazilian Marcos Leonardo starts up top.
Why no Kylian Mbappé?
The French superstar is not in Real Madrid’s starting lineup, which Xabi Alonso explains in the prematch broadcast is a result of him experiencing a fever for the past few days.
It’s a big moment for Gonzalo García, starting in Mbappé’s place.
Real Madrid's XI
Predictably, Trent Alexander-Arnold starts for Real, nominally as a right-back with Fran García on the left. Former Bournemouth man Dean Huijsen also makes his Real Madrid debut at center back, partnering Raúl Asencio.
Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni are the midfield trio, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo are the wingers, and 21-year-old Gonzalo García is the striker for Xabi Alonso’s first game in charge.
Hello and welcome to Real Madrid v Al-Hilal – one of the more intriguing cross-confederational matchups of the Club World Cup, if I do say so myself.
We’re about 35 minutes from kickoff now. Lineups to come …
Alex will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Barney Ronay on Real’s new signing:
On Tuesday morning the Miami Herald carried a story about a Local Man arrested in Florida’s Polk County for breaking into a stranger’s house to make himself dinner and have a bath rather than going home to face his wife after an argument.
The Local Man, who has no criminal history, was apprehended just as he was settling in for a relaxing soak. He has since been charged with burglary. So on balance, and while an entirely tempting, innovative option, this is probably not the way to go.
Pressure makes diamonds, as online graft-influencers like to say. But it also makes the average human yearn for a little quiet space. That same Tuesday morning Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could probably also do with a break from the white noise, was taking his second Real Madrid training session in the 32C (90F) heat of the Gardens North County District Park, a hundred miles south-east of Polk, and in a team where the entire experience can at times resemble an unceasing spousal argument.
You can read the full article below:
