Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid debut ended in a hard-fought draw with Al-Hilal in their opening Fifa Club World Cup match in Miami, despite a spectacular penalty save in stoppage time.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou brilliantly pushed out Federico Valverde’s spot-kick, which was awarded following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, after Mohammed Al-Qahtani’s arm caught Real left-back. Fran Garcia
Shortly after the half, Gonzalo Garcia, a 21-year-old, lifted the ball over Bounou at the conclusion of a sweeping counterattack to open the scoring for the 15-time European champions.
But at that point, it was totally against the flow of play, as the Saudi Pro League team dominated possession, created a number of early openings, and appeared more assertive.
Four minutes before halftime, Simone Inzaghi’s team deservedly tied the score in his first game as Al-Hilal’s manager after leaving Champions League runners-up Inter Milan.
Real defender Raul Asencio pulled back Marcos Leonardo in the area, and former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves calmly converted from the penalty spot.
Substitute Arda Guler cannoned a shot against the crossbar, and Gonzalo Garcia had a header brilliantly saved by Bounou as Real stepped things up after the break—against the side they defeated 5-3 in the final of this competition three years ago.
In his first match as Real Madrid’s manager since taking over from Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso was also without Kylian Mbappe, and the Frenchman was missed in his attack.
Even with the first starts of right-back Alexander-Arnold, who played 65 minutes before being substituted, and £50 million Spain center-back Dean Huijsen, Real Madrid looked vulnerable at the back several times before Valverde’s late outburst.
The Saudi team might even have been celebrating a historic victory if Brazilian forward Leonardo hadn’t missed two fantastic second-half opportunities.