A Frustrating First Chapter for Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso’s highly anticipated managerial debut at Real Madrid ended on a disappointing note as the Spanish powerhouse was held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi club Al Hilal in a Club World Cup group-stage clash on Wednesday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The new era at Madrid began with flashes of promise but ultimately fell short of a winning start. Gonzalo Garcia opened the scoring in the 34th minute for the 15-time European champions, but parity was restored just seven minutes later when Ruben Neves calmly slotted home a penalty for Al Hilal.
The Missed Opportunity
Madrid’s chance to clinch all three points came deep into stoppage time when VAR awarded them a penalty after Mohammed Alqahtani fouled Fran Garcia inside the box. Federico Valverde stepped up with a chance to give Alonso a dramatic debut win, but Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou became the hero, diving low to his left to keep the effort out.
Valverde’s miss left him dejected, dropping to his knees as Al Hilal players celebrated a hard-earned point against one of the most decorated clubs in football history.
Al Hilal’s Rising Ambitions Under Inzaghi
While the result overshadowed Alonso’s start, Al Hilal’s new manager, Simone Inzaghi, had reason to celebrate. Despite missing key forward Aleksandar Mitrovic due to injury, the Saudi side showed tactical discipline and created several chances, particularly through Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo, who spurned three opportunities in front of goal.
Inzaghi praised his team’s effort, stating, “We put in a good performance against Real Madrid, which is one of the strongest teams in the world. Arabic football is getting better and better year in, year out.”
Room for Growth at Real Madrid
Alonso acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that transition and change take time. “We know that some things need to change. I saw a good reaction in the second half,” he said in his post-match comments. “It is a tough competition, but everything takes time.”
As Real Madrid seeks to reassert dominance under Alonso, this Group H draw is a reminder that success won’t come overnight, even at a club steeped in winning tradition.