Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw in their Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen made their debuts for the club.
Los Blancos took the lead in the first half through a lightning counter attack finished off by Gonzalo Garcia, but were pegged back before the break as Ruben Neves fired home from the spot.
Al-Hilal were good value for the scoreline and looked on course for a deserved draw, only for Real to be awarded a 90th-minute penalty after Fran Garcia was caught in the face by a flailing arm.
However, Federico Valverde blew the chance to snatch a winner as his spot-kick was saved by Bono, denying Xabi Alonso a winning start as Real Madrid boss and ensuring a statement result for the Saudi club.
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Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal LIVE
- Real Madrid take on Al-Hilal in their opening Club World Cup game
- Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold make debuts for Spanish giants under new boss Xabi Alonso
- 90+2' SAVE! Bono denies Valverde penalty to keep Al-Hilal hopes alive [RMA 1-1 HIL]
- 41' GOAL! Ruben Neves levels from the spot for Al-Hilal [RMA 1-1 HIL]
- 34' GOAL! Gonzalo Garcia finishes a devastating counter to break the deadlock [RMA 1-0 HIL]
- 19' NO GOAL! Offside flag denies Renan Lodi a surprise opener [RMA 0-0 HIL]
- Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, Garcia; Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Gonzalo, Vinicius Jr
- Al-Hilal XI: Bono; Altambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi; Cancelo, Nasser, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Salem; Malcolm, Leonardo
Report: Real Madrid wilt in Miami heat as Al-Hilal steal thunder from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s debut
23:02 , Will CastleReal Madrid laboured to a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in their Club World Cup opener as the spirited Saudis stole thunder away from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s debut.
After a back and forth first half saw the sides enter the break level, Federico Valverde’s 90th-minute penalty miss meant Xabi Alonso did not get off to a dream winning start as Real boss.
Dean Huijsen also made his debut alongside Alexander-Arnold, who unlike the ex-Liverpool man completed the full game.
Full report below:
Real Madrid wilt in Miami heat as Al-Hilal steal thunder from Trent’s debut
Xabi Alonso on his first game in charge at Real Madrid
23:00 , Will Castle"I would say the first half was not as good as the second one,” he told Channel 5.
"Every game we need to take positives and learn on what we can improve. Every game will give us lessons to keep improving."
The Spaniard also confirmed he subbed Vinicius Jr due to cramps.
Did Valverde's missed penalty serve justice?
22:40 , Will CastleThe awarding of Real Madrid’s late penalty was very harsh - there was no intent for Al-Qahtani to strike Garcia in the face.
It would’ve felt unjust if that was the incident what denied Al-Hilal a deserved draw - so it was just as well that Valverde missed it.
Real Madrid held to draw by Al-Hilal in Club World Cup opener
22:21 , Will Castle
FULL-TIME! Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
22:08 , Will CastleA frantic end to an entertaining clash as Al-Hilal produce a statement result to hold Real Madrid to a draw!
Ruben Neves’ penalty cancelled out Gonzalo Garcia’s opener in the first half, but Real blew the chance to win it as Federico Valverde’s 90th-minute spot-kick was saved.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
22:07 , Will Castle90+9 mins: Poor corner is cleared by Real before Ruben Neves has it taken off his toes just when he was about to let fly.
This has really opened up. Both teams are going for a late winner.
And up the other end, it’s Real who now have a corner.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
22:05 , Will Castle90+8 mins: A counter for Al-Hilal leads to Salem breaking into the box, but Modric blocks to force a corner.
Can the Saudis snatch this?
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
22:05 , Will Castle90+6 mins: CHANCE! It’s another chance at the back-post for Gonzalo Garcia, but he heads it straight at Bono again!
However, there’s drama - Bono holds onto the ball for too long and the referee awards a corner! That’s a new rule in action to try and prevent time-wasting.
Nothing comes from the resulting delivery.
SAVE! Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
22:00 , Will Castle90+2 mins: Valverde steps up... AND BONO SAVES!
Real Madrid were gifted the opportunity to win this, but they’ve thrown it away!
Al-Hilal players jump on their teammate, who may have spared them defeat in the opener.
PENALTY! Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:59 , Will Castle90 mins: PENALTY! After going to the monitor, the referee points to the spot!
It’s a gilt-edged opportunity for Real Madrid to snatch a late winner. But either way, it’s harsh on Al-Hilal, who have been so resilient in this game.
Neves and Al-Qahtani have been booked in the chaos.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:56 , Will Castle88 mins: Fran Garcia feels he should have a penalty after Al-Qahtani’s flailing arm strikes him on the lip.
It was accidental, no doubt. But there is a check going on.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:54 , Will Castle86 mins: Alarm bells ring for Real as Al-Hilal try and catch them on the counter, but the ball slipped through has too much weight on it and runs through to the keeper.
Other than that, it’s the Galacticos putting the late pressure on to find a winner.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:52 , Will Castle84 mins: Modric finally enters the fray in place of Bellingham, to a massive cheer from the Real fans. This is his swansong, with his contract expiring at the end of the Club World Cup.
Al-Harbi and Al-Juwayr are also on for Al-Hilal, seven minutes after Kanno’s introduction from the bench.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:50 , Will Castle82 mins: Brahim Diaz gets into space down the left but his low, hard cross is deflected out for a corner by an Al-Hilal leg.
Huijsen sees his header from the delivery take a nick and it’s another corner.
Luka Modric is waiting to come on for Real.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:48 , Will Castle79 mins: Renan Lodi gets into the box and has the chance to pick one of three players in blue out, but his cross is deflected and goes beyond Al-Qahtani.
Vini Jr is then brought off to a chorus of boos from the Miami crowd, in place of Munoz. Not a great game from the Brazilian.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:42 , Will Castle74 mins: Valverde fires an effort towards goal but can’t get behind it - a simple save for Bono.
Real then win their first corner of the game, but nothing comes from it.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:40 , Will Castle72 mins: CHANCE! Another huge opportunity for Leonardo!
Vazquez is robbed by Salem and pulls it back to Leonardo in the box, but he skies it into the Hard Rock Stadium stands.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:36 , Will Castle68 mins: Milenkovic-Savic clashes with Fran Garcia and is down in some agony.
Under the sweltering Miami sun, this game has dropped in pace over the past 15 minutes or so.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:35 , Will Castle67 mins: Guler fancies his chances from range but fires high and wide.
Just over 20 minutes left for Real Madrid to find a winner.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:33 , Will Castle65 mins: Alexander-Arnold’s debut for Los Blancos is over as he makes way for Vazquez.
Brahim Diaz is also on for Real Madrid in place of Rodrygo.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:32 , Will Castle63 mins: Vini Jr finally gets the better of Cancelo down the left and dances into the box, but Koulibaly slides in to intervene.
Somehow, the defender manages to prevent it going out for a corner - the ball looked near certain to have gone out.
Time for changes from Simone Inzaghi: Al-Yami and Al-Qahtani are on for Cancelo and Malcom.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:29 , Will Castle62 mins: It’s dinked to the back post and Gonzalo is there to meet it once more, leaping and connecting but his header is saved by Bono.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:27 , Will Castle58 mins: Koulibaly is there to defend twice and allows Al-Hilal to counter through Salem.
He goes himself and beats Trent but gets put off by a Real Madrid shirt as the ball runs through to Courtois to clear.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:21 , Will Castle53 mins: CHANCE! Nearly a debut disaster for Huijsen as he gets closed down in his own box, but Leonardo fails to take his time with the chance and fires into the side netting.
A let-off.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:19 , Will Castle49 mins: Real Madrid look to keep up the pressure as Vini Jr dances onto the edge of the box, but fires a wild effort high and wide.
Trent then does well to turn away from his man but gets tackled, with the move ending as Valverde shoots comfortably wayward.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:15 , Will Castle46 mins: OFF THE BAR! How has that not ended up in the net?!
Nearly the perfect start for Guler as he cannons an effort off the underside of the bar.
Real keep it alive before Vini Jr dinks it back into the area for Gonzalo to rise, but he can only head it at Bono who makes a point-blank save.
BACK UNDERWAY! Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
21:13 , Will CastleAnd we’re off for the second half!
One substitution to note: Raul Asencio is off for Arda Guler. Aurelien Tchouameni looks like he’ll slot into centre-back.
Here come the players...
21:11 , Will CastleThe players are making their way back out onto the Hard Rock Stadium pitch ahead of the second half.
We’re back underway, next.
HALF-TIME! Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
20:59 , Will Castle
HALF-TIME! Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
20:58 , Will CastleTrent Alexander-Arnold hasn’t had the most straightforward Real Madrid debut so far...
HALF-TIME! Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
20:55 , Will CastleThere goes the ref’s whistle to end an intriguing first half in Miami.
It’s level at the break, with Ruben Neves’ spot-kick cancelling out Gonzalo Garcia’s opener.
Al-Hilal are fully deserving of this scoreline and could easily be in front.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
20:52 , Will Castle45+1 mins: CLOSE! So nearly a second for Al-Hilal!
Really nice give and go from Salem and Neves before the former tries bending it into the far corner.
For the life of us, it looks like it’s headed into the net, but a slight deflection forces it wide.
Salem Al-Dawsari is a real live wire.
Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
20:48 , Will Castle43 mins: Al-Hilal have their tails up and Salem tries to drive at Trent looking for a second, but the ex-Liverpool man stands up to the pressure and gets his body in the way of a shot.
Best bit of defensive work so far from the debutant.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal (Neves, 41')
20:46 , Will CastleRuben Neves steps up... and sends Thibaut Courtois the wrong way to equalise!
On the balance of the first half, it’s the least Al-Hilal deserve.
PENALTY! Real Madrid 1-0 Al-Hilal
20:45 , Will Castle40 mins: PENALTY! It’s a nightmare at the back as Asencio fails to control the ball pulls Leonardo down, giving Al-Hilal the chance to equalise!
Real Madrid 1-0 Al-Hilal
20:43 , Will Castle37 mins: SAVE! Real are in control now and looking for more - and it could have been a second for Gonzalo after being slipped through by Bellingham.
However, he goes wide and tightens the angle, allowing Bono to smother and save.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Al-Hilal (Gonzalo, 34')
20:40 , Will CastleReal Madrid’s first goal under Xabi Alonso comes from young striker Gonzalo Garcia!
It’s a lightning counter-attack as Vini Jr, Valverde and Rodrygo combine before slipping it through to Gonzalo, who fires it over Bono to break the deadlock.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:38 , Will Castle33 mins: Rodrygo shoots from outside the box and tries to catch Bono out but it goes just over, landing on the roof of the net.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:34 , Will Castle30 mins: A lot of Al-Hilal’s threat is coming down the left-hand side through Salem Al-Dawsari.
This has not been an easy debut for Trent. Time for a water break.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:32 , Will Castle27 mins: Another chance for Al-Hilal goes begging as Altamakti heads just wide from the corner.
It’s the Saudi side who are looking the more dangerous, but they need to make one of these chances count.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:31 , Will Castle26 mins: Big challenge from Tchouameni after Salem drives towards the box before beating Asencio, but the Saudi danger man is prevented from getting a shot away.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:26 , Will Castle21 mins: Best move of the game for Real Madrid as Trent slots in Vini Jr, who cuts it across to Gonzalo just inside the box - but the youngster gets it all wrong and miskicks completely.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:24 , Will Castle19 mins: NO GOAL! Renan Lodi slots home for Al-Hilal - but the flag goes up!
The Brazilian just gets his run wrong, but it was a smart finish to beat Courtois.
The Saudis continue to threaten.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:23 , Will Castle18 mins: It is 32 degrees Celcius in Miami, which explains why it’s taken less than 20 minutes for Kalidou Koulibaly’s shirt to be DRENCHED in sweat. He looks like he’s just come out of the bath.
Tough conditions, to say the least.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:21 , Will Castle16 mins: First booking of the day goes the way of Vini Jr for diving.
For a second it looked like Koulibaly had prevented him from running clear, but replays show there was zero contact. Correct decision.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:19 , Will Castle14 mins: Trent’s first attempt at his trademark cross-field ball flies over Vinicus Jr’s head and out for a throw.
Salem was just taken out in the box by Rodrygo and is lying in some agony, so maybe he’ll claim he was just putting it out of play to allow the Saudi to get treatment.
Al-Hilal want a penalty, but the ref is having none of it.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:17 , Will Castle12 mins: Let-off for Al-Hilal as Altambakti gives it away poorly in the box allowing Gonzalo to pounce, but the forward can’t get it under control and the ball runs out for a goal-kick.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:15 , Will Castle10 mins: CLOSE! Al-Hilal should be in front!
A ball is lofted to the back-post before being fired back across the six-yard box where Leonardo is waiting, but Huijsen gets close enough to force him to put his shot wide.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:13 , Will Castle8 mins: Valverde clashes with Koulibaly and goes down in a heap. He’s receiving treatment for a knock to the head.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:11 , Will Castle6 mins: An unlikely shooter from range in Asencio but it’s straight down the throat of Bono.
Trent has barely touched the ball in the first six minutes, just in case you were wondering.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:09 , Will Castle4 mins: Free-kick goes into the wall but Al-Hilal keep it alive, getting it out to Neves who shoots from range.
We know he can hit them, but the ex-Wolves can only hit over.
Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:08 , Will Castle2 mins: SAVE! The first chance goes Al-Hilal’s way as Milenkovic-Savic stings the palms of Courtois with a shot from range.
The Saudi side then wins a free-kick on the edge of the area after Real fail to clear.
KICK-OFF! Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
20:05 , Will CastleWe’re off in Miami!
Al-Hilal kicks this off as Cancelo is fouled inside 20 seconds.
Club World Cup attendance woes continue
20:04 , Will CastleEven the draw of Real Madrid can’t come close to selling out the Hard Rock Stadium as another group game begins with a patchy attendance.
Trent Alexander-Arnold reception as he steps onto pitch as a Real Madrid player
20:00 , Will CastleBig cheers as Trent Alexander-Arnold is introduced to the stadium NBA-style for his first Real Madrid appearance.
The vast majority of fans are decked in white - no prizes for guessing who the Miami faithful is backing.
Warm-ups finishing up in Miami
19:42 , Will Castle
Alexander-Arnold spared Mitrovic test
18:53 , Will CastleImportant to note that things did not go Trent Alexander-Arnold’s way when he last met Aleksandar Mitrovic on a football pitch, during Liverpool’s season opener at Fulham in 2022/23.
In that game, Alexander-Arnold got dunked on by Mitrovic for Fulham’s opener in a 2-2 draw, a game the Englishman was roundly dominated in.
The big Serb was a late withdrawal from the squad to face Real, sparing Alexander-Arnold a serious test for his debut.
Line-ups CONFIRMED!
18:39 , Will CastleIt’s debuts for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen as Real Madrid prepare to kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Al-Hilal.
Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, Garcia; Tchouameni, Valverde, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Gonzalo, Vinicius Jr.
Al-Hilal XI: Bono; Altambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi; Cancelo, Nasser, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Salem; Malcolm, Leonardo.
📋✅ Our starting XI!
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 18, 2025
🆚 @Alhilal_EN pic.twitter.com/Shn5TV6U5z
Our squad for today’s match against Real Madrid in #FIFACWC ⭐️💙 pic.twitter.com/ivF6ILfSxk
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) June 18, 2025
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal LIVE!
16:00 , Will CastleGood afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Real Madrid’s Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal!
All eyes will be on Real’s new boys - whether that be on the pitch or the touchline - with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen in line to be handed debuts by new boss Xabi Alonso.
Al-Hilal, meanwhile, are now coached by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi after he left the club following their defeat to PSG in the Champions League final.
Stay tuned for all the build-up and team news, right here.
