Xabi Alonso faced a significant challenge at the start of his journey as coach of Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti previously remarked that a draw at the club often signals the onset of a crisis, and this proved true as Real Madrid ended their opening match in the Club World Cup in a lackluster 1-1 draw against Al Hilal. The match displayed a rather uninspired performance; although they initially took the lead through Gonzalo, they conceded a penalty equalizer from Neves, and in a nail-biting moment before full time, Valverde missed a crucial penalty kick.
In his first lineup, Xabi Alonso, missing Mbappé due to illness, diverged from the tactical model he had utilized at Leverkusen (which featured three central defenders) and instead opted for the familiar 4-3-3 system. This included Rodrygo and Vinicius on the flanks, with Bellingham in midfield and Gonzalo in place of the absent French star. However, this tactical plan, reminiscent of Ancelotti’s reign, encountered serious issues early on.
Trent, making his debut alongside Huijsen, pushed forward to support the double pivot in attack, aimed at liberating Valverde. However, this strategy barely lasted a few minutes due to the team’s inability to retain possession.
The opposition, under the guidance of new coach Inzaghi, demonstrated their capability by dominating possession. They effectively dictated the pace of the game, keeping the Madrid team on their toes and exposing significant weaknesses in their midfield. They exploited the lack of defensive support from Vinicius to García, often creating mismatches in the center, and made threatening incursions by targeting space behind Trent. The Saudi side, known for finishing second in the last league behind Al-Ittihad, led by Benzema, proved very much a threat on a European level.
Incapable of More Than Three Passes
Milinkovic-Savic tested Courtois in the very first minute, and a close chance for Leonardo just nine minutes in went begging, narrowly missing the target after a strong build-up by Cancelo. The Saudi team demonstrated a dominant performance, with Real Madrid struggling to string together consecutive passes, often failing to make it past three before losing the ball.
Alonso visibly expressed frustration due to the lack of defensive intensity from his players, not only in pressing but also during individual challenges. An offside goal from Lodi served as a warning, and a two-minute timeout due to heat allowed Alonso to clarify his tactics. He urged his players, “Pass and move,” calling for greater mobility on the field.
Around the 33rd minute, relief arrived for Real Madrid when Trent won the ball back, initiating a counterattack. He passed to Vinicius, who in turn found Valverde, who eventually fed Rodrygo. The latter delivered a deft diagonal pass to Gonzalo, who managed to score with a poorly struck but effective shot.
Valverde laments his penalty miss.
The Madrid squad found a brief oasis amidst their struggle but squandered it just minutes later. In the 39th minute, Asencio made a crucial mistake, fouling Leonardo in the box, giving the referee no option but to award a penalty. Rubén Neves coolly converted, slotting the ball past Courtois. Just before halftime, Al Dawsari caused further anxiety for Madrid with a dangerous run and a shot that was narrowly deflected by Asencio when it appeared destined for goal.
In the locker room, Alonso made a bold move, substituting Asencio for Güler, sliding Tchouaméni back into a central defensive role. This change injected life into Madrid, and just a minute into the second half, Güler nearly scored but hit the crossbar instead.
As the match progressed, Madrid controlled the tempo but struggled to capitalize with significant shots on goal. The performances of Vinicius and Bellingham fell short of expectations, prompting Alonso to swap in Lucas and Brahim for Trent and Rodrygo with 20 minutes remaining. He later introduced academy player Víctor Muñoz and Modric to replace Vinicius and Bellingham, forming a front line of less experienced players to overcome the absence of their stars.
Madrid had a chance to claim victory when they were awarded a penalty after a VAR review revealed a foul by Al Qahtani on Fran. However, with Mbappé, Vini, and Bellingham absent, Fede stepped up and found himself thwarted by Bono. With much work still to do, Real Madrid faces crucial matches against Pachuca and Salzburg to secure their progression in the tournament.