Alonso has disappointing start as Real Madrid coach in 1-1 draw against Al Hilal at Club World Cup

Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid debut did not go as planned as the Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the Club World Cup. The match took place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Alonso, who recently took over as the head coach of Real Madrid, was hoping for a strong start to his tenure. However, his team was unable to secure a victory as Federico Valverde’s stoppage-time penalty was saved by Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

The game was a closely contested affair, with both teams creating chances throughout the match. Gonzalo Garcia opened the scoring for Madrid in the 34th minute, but Al Hilal quickly responded with a penalty converted by Ruben Neves.

The pivotal moment of the match came in added time when VAR awarded Madrid a penalty after a foul on Fran Garcia in the box. Valverde stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his effort was well saved by Bounou, denying Madrid the victory.

Despite the disappointing result, Alonso remained optimistic about his team’s performance. He acknowledged that building a successful team takes time and that there are areas that need improvement.

On the other hand, Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi was pleased with his team’s performance, considering it as a positive sign of their potential. The team had several opportunities to score, with Leonardo missing three clear chances.

Overall, it was a challenging start for Alonso at Real Madrid, but he remains determined to make the necessary changes and lead his team to success in the future. The Club World Cup continues to be a tough competition, and Madrid will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming matches.

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