Late penalty miss denied Real Madrid a win in the club World Cup
Xabi Alonso failed to secure a win in his first match as Real Madrid head coach, as his side drew 1-1 with Al Hilal in their opening group stage game of the 2025 Club World Cup.
Despite their shaky start, Real Madrid took the lead just after the 30-minute mark in Miami. A swift counter-attack involving Trent Alexander-Arnold, Federico Valverde, and VinÃcius Junior culminated in Rodrygo Goes finding the back of the net. However, Al Hilal fought back and deservedly equalized, leaving Alonso still searching for his first victory at the helm.Past Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, but unfortunately for Real Madrid, their lead did not last long. Raul Asencio fouled Marcos Leonardo inside the penalty area, which led to referee Facundo Radi Tello Figueroa pointing to the spot. Ruben Neves stepped up, and he made no mistake by sending Thibaut Courtois the wrong way.
Federico Valverde Misses Golden Chance to Score Winner**
The second half saw a much better performance from Real Madrid, though it was still a rather flat showing from Alonso’s side. However, it could have all been irrelevant as they had a golden opportunity to win the match in stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Fran Garcia. Unfortunately, Federico Valverde’s effort was saved by former Sevilla goalkeeper Bounou.
The result is disappointing for Real Madrid, but the performance was even more concerning. Alonso has work to do, with just four days until his team’s next match against Mexican side Pachuca.
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