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Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: Club World Cup Preview
The Xabi Alonso era at Real Madrid begins with a high-profile fixture as the Spanish giants take on Saudi Pro League runners-up Al-Hilal in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Both clubs approach this clash under new management, with Alonso and Simone Inzaghi each preparing for their first competitive matches in charge of their respective sides.
by Berba
For Real Madrid, the 2024–25 campaign ended on a sour note. Despite securing the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, they missed out on domestic glory, losing the La Liga title to Barcelona and suffering defeats in both the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals. The disappointing end prompted the early departure of Carlo Ancelotti, who left to become Brazil’s national team coach. In response, Real turned to Alonso, a club legend who guided Bayer Leverkusen to historic success in Germany before taking the reins in Madrid.
Alonso has already begun shaping his squad, with new signings including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen expected to make their debuts in this tournament. Though star forward Endrick is sidelined with a hamstring injury, Real’s attacking options remain formidable—spearheaded by Kylian Mbappé, who comes off a 31-goal La Liga season that earned him both the Pichichi Trophy and European Golden Shoe. However, defensive fitness remains a concern, with Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, and Ferland Mendy all included in the travelling squad but not expected to feature.
Their opponents, Al-Hilal, also enter a new chapter. Simone Inzaghi was appointed head coach shortly after parting ways with Inter Milan, having most recently led them to a Champions League final. The Saudi side are looking to build on a strong domestic season in which they finished second in the league and topped the scoring charts with 95 goals in 34 games. They also have history against Madrid, having pushed them in a 5-3 defeat in the 2022 Club World Cup final.
Inzaghi is expected to implement his familiar 3-5-2 formation, with Moroccan goalkeeper Bono in net and a backline featuring Kalidou Koulibaly and Ali Al-Bulayhi. Joao Cancelo, returning from injury, may be available as a wing-back option, while the attacking burden will fall largely on Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored 28 goals last season.
With both clubs in transition but boasting top-tier talent, this encounter promises to be one of the highlights of the Club World Cup group stage. While Real Madrid look to start Alonso’s tenure with silverware, Al-Hilal aim to prove they can once again compete with Europe’s elite on the global stage.