Xabi Alonso imagined it differently: In his first game at the start of the club World Cup, the new trainer did not get past a flattering draw against Al-Hilal Riad from Saudi Arabia.
In the 1: 1 (1: 1) at 30 degrees in Miami, Alonso and Co. were even lucky that the outsider had some good options. Federico Valverde missed the great chance of a flattering victory for Madrid when the 26-year-old missed a penalty (90th+2).
New additions in the starting eleven
In the real defense, Alonso put the two newcomers Dean Huijsen (AFC Bournemouth) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (FC Liverpool) in the starting eleven-and actually they should have received their first goal early on with the royal. But Marcus Leonardo scored just next to it (10th). After that, Al-Hilal always played cheekily forward, but at first Alonso was allowed to cheer: the former coach of Bayer Leverkusen showed both fists when Gonzalo Garcia took the first real chance to take the lead (34.).
However, Ruben Neves equalized a short time later through a penalty (41st). Salem Al Dawsari in particular caused a risk for Al-Hilal, and Arda Güler (46th) hit the crossbar on the opposite side. In Group H it goes for Real on Sunday (9:00 p.m.) against CF Pachuca, RB Salzburg (June 27) is still waiting for the group.