Real Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign kicked off with a dramatic 1-1 draw against a spirited Al Hilal side, as Yassine Bounou’s stoppage-time penalty save denied Los Blancos a winning start in Miami. The Group H opener at the Hard Rock Stadium had it all — big names, bold moments, and a pulsating finish that saw both teams leave with a point.
It was a night of firsts and fresh beginnings. Real Madrid entered a new era under Xabi Alonso, while former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi made his managerial debut for the Saudi giants. On the pitch, Real’s summer signings Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold were handed their first starts, while Gonzalo Garcia emerged as an early hero.
Al Hilal Start Fast, Real Madrid Rattled Early
Al Hilal came flying out of the blocks, showing no fear against the 15-time European champions. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic nearly broke the deadlock early on, forcing Thibaut Courtois into a fingertip save to push the ball behind for a corner.
The Saudi side, packed with international quality, continued to pile on the pressure. Marcos Leonardo should have scored after being picked out by Salem Al-Dawsari, but the Brazilian fluffed his lines and fired wide.
Real Madrid looked out of rhythm, and their discomfort grew when Renan Lodi found the net with a tidy finish — only to see the goal ruled out for offside. Moments later, Hassan Tambakti headed wide from a dangerous Ruben Neves corner, with Real fans holding their breath.
Garcia Strikes as Real Score Against the Run of Play
Despite Al Hilal’s dominance, it was Real Madrid who struck first. In the 39th minute, Rodrygo launched a devastating counterattack, slicing open the defense with a low cross. Gonzalo Garcia, showing sharp instincts in front of goal, scuffed his shot past Bounou to hand Madrid a 1-0 lead.
It was a classic Real Madrid sucker punch — under pressure but lethal when given space. Yet their lead wouldn’t last long.
Neves Responds from the Spot, Asencio in Trouble
Just minutes before the break, Al Hilal were handed a lifeline. Raul Asencio was caught dragging down Marcos Leonardo in the box, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Ruben Neves stepped up and calmly slotted home to make it 1-1.
Asencio’s foul proved costly in more ways than one, as Xabi Alonso replaced him at half-time with Arda Guler, looking to regain control in midfield.
Second Half Fireworks: Guler Hits the Bar, Garcia Denied
Real Madrid came out with renewed purpose in the second half, and Arda Guler almost made an instant impact. Set up beautifully by Vinicius Junior, the Turkish youngster unleashed a powerful effort that crashed off the crossbar.
Moments later, Vinicius was back in the thick of things, floating in a teasing ball to Garcia, who was denied a second goal by a stunning reflex save from Bounou.
Al Hilal continued to pose a threat on the break, with Salem Al-Dawsari and Neves pulling the strings. The Saudis looked organized, physical, and confident — refusing to let Madrid settle.
Late Drama: VAR, Handball, and Heroics from Bono
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, it appeared both teams would share the points. But the game had one final twist. A lengthy VAR check found Mohammed Al Qahtani guilty of a handball in the box as he challenged Fran Garcia.
Referee Facundo Tello pointed to the spot, and the stadium held its breath. Up stepped Federico Valverde, tasked with rescuing all three points for Real Madrid.
90+1′ THIS IS INSANE! Penalty to @realmadrid, Valverde from the spot and Bono SAVES IT! We are still level in Miami!
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #RMAHIL pic.twitter.com/CpwOek3yWy
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 18, 2025
But Yassine Bounou — already having an outstanding night — guessed right and made a brilliant save to keep out Valverde’s strike. It was a moment of redemption for Al Hilal and a moment of disbelief for Real Madrid.
Bounou the Star, Al Hilal’s Statement Performance
Yassine Bounou’s late heroics sealed a deserved result for Al Hilal, who ended Real Madrid’s 100% record against Saudi opposition in the Club World Cup. The Moroccan keeper was outstanding throughout — commanding in the box, calm under pressure, and unshaken by the magnitude of the moment.
Al Hilal may have been the underdogs, but they matched Real Madrid in every department. Inzaghi’s men were tactically sharp, defensively resilient, and showed that they belong on this global stage.
Xabi Alonso, on the other hand, will take both positives and lessons from his debut as Real Madrid boss. His team struggled in moments, but also showed flashes of their trademark quality — and they’ll need more of that as the tournament continues.
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