Xabi Alonso's highly anticipated debut as Real Madrid's manager at the Club World Cup on Wednesday ended in a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal, a result that can be considered less than ideal for the Spanish giants. The match, held at Hard Rock Stadium, saw Real Madrid failing to secure a victory, leaving fans and pundits alike with mixed feelings about the start of the Alonso era.
Alonso's first lineup choices raised eyebrows, notably starting 21-year-old Gonzalo García in place of Kylian Mbappé. This decision was partly influenced by Mbappé being ruled out due to illness. Several other key players were also absent due to injuries, including Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy, Endrick, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, and Antonio Rüdiger. This situation led Alonso to integrate new signings and promote players from Real Madrid Castilla to fill the gaps.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, both recent additions to the squad, made their debuts in Real Madrid's revamped defense. Alexander-Arnold's debut was particularly noteworthy, marking his first time playing for a club other than Liverpool in his professional career. Meanwhile, Rodrygo, despite recent transfer speculation and a perceived dip in form, was given a chance to prove himself on the right wing. Arda Güler, however, remained on the bench.
Real Madrid took the lead in the 34th minute thanks to Gonzalo García, who capitalized on his unexpected start by scoring the first goal of the Alonso regime. However, their lead was short-lived. Al Hilal quickly responded, earning a penalty seven minutes later. Ruben Neves converted the penalty, leveling the score before halftime.
The game remained tense, and in stoppage time, Real Madrid was presented with a golden opportunity to snatch a victory. A VAR review spotted a foul in the box, and Federico Valverde stepped up to take the penalty. Unfortunately for Real Madrid, Al Hilal's goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, made a fantastic save, denying Valverde and securing a draw for his team.
While the draw was an underwhelming start for Alonso, it was a positive result for Al Hilal, coached by Simone Inzaghi. The Saudi Arabian team demonstrated their potential by holding their own against the 15-time European champions. Al Hilal even had opportunities to win the game, with Leonardo missing several chances. The absence of their star striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic, due to fitness issues, further highlighted Al Hilal's resilience.
The match revealed areas for improvement for Real Madrid under Alonso. The defense, in particular, appeared vulnerable, especially on the left side, where a misunderstanding between Fran Garcia and Raul Asencio led to Al Hilal's penalty. The integration of new players like Alexander-Arnold and Huijsen didn't immediately solve the defensive issues, suggesting that more time is needed for the team to gel. Despite Garcia's goal, the attack will need to find more consistent avenues to goal. The connection between defense and midfield also seemed disjointed, which is understandable given the recent changes and injuries.
Despite the setback, Alonso's debut offered glimpses of his approach, including his willingness to give opportunities to young players and experiment with the lineup. The coming weeks will be crucial for Alonso to fine-tune his tactics, integrate the new players, and address the defensive vulnerabilities.
