On Wednesday, Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in new coach Xabi Alonso’s Club World Cup debut, following Manchester City’s earlier success. Federico Valverde’s stoppage-time penalty was saved, forcing Real to settle for a point in the Group H match in Miami after taking the lead earlier.
The significant proportion of Spanish fans in the excellent audience of 62,415 at the Hard Rock Stadium were disappointed with the result.
“The first half was not as good as the second. In the second half, we had more opportunities and better control. For sure, we have the principles to begin creating something, but we could have won.”Alonso told broadcaster DAZN
The former Bayer Leverkusen coach gave new arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen their defensive debuts, while Real were without top scorer Kylian Mbappe for the encounter.
Gonzalo Garcia was introduced into their assault as a result, and the 21-year-old took advantage of the opportunity, opening the score just after the half-hour mark with a Rodrygo assist.
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However, Al-Hilal responded in new coach Simone Inzaghi’s debut game on the bench, with Ruben Neves leveling from the penalty spot after a Raul Asencio foul.
Al-Hilal then held out for a draw, but Real had a chance to win in stoppage time when Mohammed Al Qahtani was adjudged to have put his hand in the face of Fran Garcia in the box.
However, Yassine Bounou saved Valverde’s penalty kick, resulting in a tie for the Saudi team after an impressive performance.
Foden stars, Guardiola satisfied
In Philadelphia, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku scored first-half goals as Pep Guardiola’s City defeated Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 2-0 in Group G.
New signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki made their debuts for City, but it was Foden who scored the opener just two minutes, stroking home inside the box after goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid tapped a Savinho pass into his path.
Doku scored the second goal from a Foden corner just before halftime in a game played in humid early afternoon circumstances in front of 37,446 at Lincoln Financial Field.
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