Fede Valverde missed a penalty opportunity in the 90+2 minute.
Playing with the team missing Kylian Mbappe due to illness, coach Xabi Alonso gave the opportunity to start for young player Gonzalo Garcia.
This decision quickly paid off. In the 31st minute, from a sharp counter-attack, Rodrygo crossed accurately for Gonzalo to finish fortunately past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, opening the score for Real.
This was also Gonzalo's first start for Real's first team and he was immediately voted man of the match.
However, Los Blancos' advantage did not last long. Just four minutes before the break, defender Raul Asencio fouled Marcos Leonardo in the box, winning a penalty for Al Hilal. Ruben Neves, making no mistake from the spot, equalized 1-1 for the Saudi Pro League representatives.
The second half saw Real Madrid make a significant effort to regain control of the game. Arda Güler hit the crossbar, while Gonzalo Garcia had a series of dangerous headers. However, Yassine Bounou was excellent in goal for Al Hilal.
The dramatic climax came in the 90+2 minute, when VAR intervened and awarded Real a penalty after a collision between Mohammed Al-Qahtani and Fran Garcia. Federico Valverde stepped up to take the shot, but his shot was too soft and went right to the target, allowing Bounou to easily push it away.
This is the second consecutive time Real have missed a penalty at the Club World Cup, after Valverde himself missed at the 2022 tournament.
The match marked an incomplete debut for coach Xabi Alonso – who took over from Carlo Ancelotti. Although his players played better in the second half, Real still exposed many weaknesses, especially in defense.
Newcomer Dean Huijsen played a good role, while Trent Alexander-Arnold started for 65 minutes in his first time wearing Real's shirt but did not leave a clear mark.
"Al Hilal showed that they are unpredictable opponents. We played better in the second half but could not take advantage of our chances," coach Alonso shared after the match.
On the other side, coach Simone Inzaghi – also making his debut against Al Hilal – can be pleased. His team played coherently, pressed effectively and could have taken all three points if Marcos Leonardo had made good use of two good chances at the end of the match.
Real’s problem is not only in finishing but also in maintaining pressure – something that used to be a strong point under Ancelotti. In addition, Mbappé’s absence has significantly reduced the attacking power of the white team, while Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo are both playing below their best.
This draw means Real Madrid cannot dominate Group B of the Club World Cup. They must win their next match to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
For coach Xabi Alonso, the task ahead is huge: stabilizing the defense, restoring the attacking identity, and especially - finding a backup plan when the top stars are not in good physical condition.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/real-madrid-hoa-that-vong-al-hilal-trong-ngay-ra-mat-cua-xabi-alonso-144088.html
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