CWC: Bounou brings justice and stops poor Madrid! Xabi, this looks bad

First things first - hats off to Al Hilal. The Saudi side played an outstanding game against poor Real Madrid and perhaps deserved even more than just a point. Simone Inzaghi's brave warriors salvaged a vital draw and sent a message to Xabi Alonso that he was in for some hard work.

Los Blancos did break the deadlock in the 34th minute over the young Gonzalo Garcia but conceded the leveller just seven minutes later when Ruben Neves scored from the spot.

After the break, the players were getting increasingly tired, and the rhythm of the game was pretty low. Arda Guler wasted a colossal chance in the 46th minute, hitting the bar from close range, but Fede Valverde was the real tragic figure of the clash.

Madrid were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of the match, the Uruguayan stepped up but shot poorly, allowing Yassine Bounou to stop his effort and secure a point for his team - 1-1.

During the opening 30 minutes of the game, one team wanted to play football, and the other was Real Madrid. Jokes aside, Al Hilal, threatened over Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Marcos Leonardo and even managed to score in the 19th minute through Renan Lodi, whose goal was disallowed for offside.

Madrid were deprived of the ill Kylian Mbappe's help, but even without the Frenchman, they had to be way better.

Just another day in City's office: Foden & Doku smash the Moroccans

However, as if the cooling break at the half-hour mark had woken up Xabi Alonso's men, they managed to break the deadlock only four minutes later. Once again, the Saudi side attacked but opened too much space for Madrid's counterattack, and it cost them dearly.

Fede Valverde pushed the ball forward and passed it to Rodrygo on the right flank. The Brazilian sent a low cross in the box, finding Gonzalo Garcia - who had taken Mbappe's place in the XI - and the 21-year-old easily chipped the ball over Yassine Bounou, putting the La Liga side in front.

Yet, Madrid's joy lasted for only seven minutes, as another youngster, the defender Raul Asencio spoiled everything, pulling Leonardo by the shirt in the area and leaving the ref no choice, but to point to the spot. Ruben Neves was impeccable, making it 1-1 four minutes before the break.

In added time, Al Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari had another colossal chance, but his decent effort from inside the area went millimetres wide of the post.

Seeing that things hadn't been going well for his team, Alonso left Asencio in the locker room and replaced him with Arda Guler, moving Aurelien Tchouameni back to the defensive line. And the young Turk could have netted seconds after stepping on the pitch, as he hit the bar from close range to Vinicius Jr cross!

The Saudis responded six minutes later when Madrid's newcomer Dean Huijsen lost the ball inside the box and Leonardo shot powerfully but wide of the post. The "deja vu" of that situation happened 20 minutes later, only this time, the Brazilian's effort went over the bar. Still, the former Bournemouth player's error-proneness was worrying.

King like a pauper - Real Madrid without locker rooms and bathrooms

The clock was ticking for Real Madrid. Alonso did sub in Brahim Diaz, but the Moroccan brought him little improvement. Without Mbappe and with invisible Vini, Los Blancos attack was seriously subpar. On the other hand, the Saudis used every opportunity to "steal" a couple of seconds and kill the rhythm of the game.

Yet, out of nowhere, Madrid got a chance to win, earning a penalty kick in the dying minutes following Mohammed Al-Qahtani's foul on Fran Garcia in the area. Federico Valverde took responsibility, but Bounou saved his weak effort from the spot!

That was the last notable moment of the game, as neither team had enough time to strike and win the whole spoils.

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025

Matchday 1

Sunday

Al Ahly Cairo - Inter Miami 0-0

Bayern Munich - Auckland City 10-0 (6-0)

/Coman 6, 21, Boey 18, Olise 20, 45+3, Muller 45, 89, Musiala 67, 73 pen, 84/

PSG - Atletico Madrid 3-0 (2-0)

/Ruiz 19, Vitinha 45+1, Mayulu 87/

Monday

Palmeiras - Porto 0-0

Botafogo - Seattle 2-1 (2-0)

/Jair 28, Igor Jesus 44 - Roldan 75/

Monday

Chelsea - Los Angeles 2-0 (1-0)

/Neto 34, Fernandez 79/

Tuesday

Boca Juniors - Benfica 2-2 (2-1)

/Merentiel 21, Battaglia 27 - Di Maria 45+3 pen, Otamendi 84/

Flamengo - Esperance 2-0 (1-0)

/De Arrascaeta 17, Araujo 70/

Fluminense - Dortmund 0-0

River Plate - Urawa RD 3-1 (1-0)

/Colidio 12, Druissi 48, Meza 73 - Matsuo 58 (p)/

Wednesday

Ulsan - Mamelodi 0-1 (0-1)

/Rayners 36/

Monterrey - Inter Milan 1-1 (1-1)

/Ramos 25 - Martinez 42/

Manchester City - Wydad Casablanca 2-0 (2-0)

/Foden 2, Doku 42/

Real Madrid - Al Hilal 1-1 (1-1)

/Garcia G. 34 - Neves 41 pen/

Thursday

00:55: (2.85) Pachuca (3.35) Salzburg (2.50)

04:00: (12.0) Al Ain (6.50) Juventus (1.22)

***odds are subject to change***