A change in formation for Real Madrid
Real Madrid have settled for a draw in their opening match of the Club World Cup against Saudi side Al-Hilal Getty Images Getty Images
50' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
As expected, the half-time introduction of Guler has seen Real Madrid move into a back three, the favoured system of Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.
Aurelien Tchouameni has dropped into the backline alongside Dean Huijsen and Fran Garcia with Alexander-Arnold moving into a right-wing back position and Vinicius Jr staying close to the touchline on the other wing.
That means Rodrygo and goalscorer Gonzalo Garcia are in a two-man attack.
47' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
What a start to the second half!
Real Madrid could — and maybe should — have scored within 60 seconds of the restart. First, substitute Guler rattled the crossbar with a contested volley from the edge of the box.
And Madrid recycled the ball — although were later flagged for offside — and Vinicius Jr lifted a delicate cross into Garcia in the six-yard box whose header was well kept out by Bounou.
Almost the perfect start to the second half for Alonso's men.
46' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
After that quick — and much-needed — break for half-time refreshments, the ball is rolling again at Hard Rock Stadium.
Not before Real Madrid make a substitution, though, with Asencio taken off for midfielder Arda Guler.
The Spaniards perhaps moving to a back three with that very attacking change. Getty Images
Raul Asencio has now conceded three penalties in 2025. Only one defender on a La Liga team, Getafe's Omar Alderete, has conceded more (4) this year. Getty Images
HT Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Xabi Alonso's first starting XI with Real Madrid has an average age of 24 years and 300 days, which is the club's youngest in their first game with a new manager in all competitions since at least the 2009-10 season.
Five of Madrid's last eight managers won their first game in all competitions with the club (D2 L1), with Zinedine Zidane achieving the biggest win of those eight with a 5-0 victory over Deportivo de La Coruna in La Liga in January 2016.
HT Real Madrid 0-0 Al-Hilal
Still trying to get my head around the fact that this tournament is on at the same time as the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Among the stranger club-vs-country battles in evidence here: Saudi Arabia are in the Gold Cup — not weird at all, stop looking at me like that — and play the US tomorrow, yet their best player is currently on duty for Al Hilal in Miami.
Funny old world. Getty Images
When Real Madrid finally started playing on their front foot late in the first half, it was Rodrygo who ensured his side would have something to show for it.
The Brazilian nearly did the job himself with a curling strike that went just over the crossbar, but then completed a terrific Madrid build-up with a perfect curling pass to give Garcia his first shining moment for the club. Getty Images
Few clubs outside of Europe in this competition have as many European level-caliber players as Al-Hilal, and they showed that throughout the first half.
Portugal international Ruben Neves, formerly of Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers, finally provided the Al-Hilal breakthrough with his equalizing penalty kick. Getty Images
With his goal in the first half, Gonzalo Garcia (21 years, 86 days) became the fourth-youngest player Real Madrid player to score in his first start for the club since 2009-2010. The three players to have done it at a younger age? Jude Bellingham – 20 years, 44 days
– 20 years, 44 days Marco Asensio – 20 years, 201 days
– 20 years, 201 days Dani Ceballos – 21 years, 47 days Getty Images
HT Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Put yourselves in the shoes of 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia for a second. You're a Madrid native who's devoted his entire life to rising through the academy of your hometown club, which also happens to be one of the biggest in the world.
You're suddenly picked to start on a global stage because the first-choice man, who also happens to be one of the most recognizable faces in world football, is sick. Then, you not only make some stellar runs when your team looks to push, but you score the first goal.
What a moment! Getty Images
HT Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Well, there hasn't been much difference between Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti's, which shows that this new project is only a few days old.
The defensive system failed, with Al-Hilal generating more danger and once again there was a lack of clarity in the build-up play and in the final metres.
HT Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
There goes the half-time whistle at Hard Rock Stadium.
That was not the first half that many of us were expecting. Al-Hilal have been much the better team while Real Madrid have been really underwhelming.
The Spaniards took the lead against the run of play but were pegged back after some lazy Asencio defending.
Simone Inzaghi will be particularly impressed with what he has seen from the players. Alonso, not so much. Getty Images
45+4' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Real Madrid are a structural mess.
Their high press has been ineffective and they've been exposed defensively in transition and when Al Hilal slow the game down and progress through possession.
45+2' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Oh, that was nearly a brilliant Al-Hilal goal.
Al-Dawsari has been a real threat on the left wing and he exchanged a lovely one-two with Milinkovic-Savic inside the Madrid penalty area. His shot at the end of it was bending towards the top corner, but Asencio did well to get in front of it and deflect it beyond Courtois' far post.
It's not quite making amends for his concession of the penalty, but that was a crucial block. Getty Images
45' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
As a result of the penalty, goals and cooling break, there will be five more minutes of this first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Getty Images
44' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
No real surprise to see Neves score from the penalty spot — he scored all eight that he took for Wolves in the Premier League. Getty Images
43' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Asencio had made several very good interventions, but this penalty underlines that he continues to make mistakes that penalise the team.
Undoubtedly something he needs to improve, although he does have plenty of time at the age of just 22.
42' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Madrid's issues with refs continue — and not the first time in his short Madrid career that Raul Asencio has given away a needless penalty.
The 22-year-old seemed to lose a sense of where the ball and his opponent was, and although the contact was slight, the referee was within his rights to point to the spot.
41' Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal have the equalising goal their first-half play has deserved!
Neves is a very accomplished penalty taker and he smashes it into the back of the net as Courtois dives the other way.
We're all square again on the stroke of half-time.
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