Newly appointed Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso faced a tough debut as his team settled for a 1-1 draw against Saudi club Al Hilal, in a pre-season match filled with drama, missed chances, and late heartbreak.
Madrid, without Kylian Mbappé due to illness, saw academy youngster Gonzalo step in as Alonso’s surprise pick—and the move paid off. Gonzalo scored the opening goal and earned MVP honors, injecting hope into what was a sluggish first-half performance from the Spanish giants.
Despite Madrid’s flashes of brilliance, especially after key substitutions in the second half, it was a night of missed opportunities. Most notably, Federico Valverde squandered a golden chance to seal victory in the 92nd minute, missing a penalty saved by Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Bono.
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Al Hilal dominated large spells of the game, pressing hard with their Brazilian wingers and midfield talents like Rubén Neves and Milinkovic-Savic. Lodi’s early goal was ruled offside, but Neves later equalized from the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge by Asensio.
Madrid improved in the second half with impactful changes—Vinicius Jr., Arda Güler, and Brahim Diaz brought more energy and creativity. However, tired legs and disjointed defense exposed Madrid to several late chances from the Saudi side.
Xabi Alonso’s tactical choices, including placing Gonzalo up front and reshuffling the midfield, showed promise but also highlighted Madrid’s need for further balance and finishing quality.
“We saw great energy and moments of creativity, but also some clear gaps. It’s a work in progress,” Alonso reportedly told staff post-match.
Madrid fans will take heart in Gonzalo’s breakthrough performance and Alonso’s brave decisions. But with bigger challenges ahead, the pressure is on for the former midfield maestro to refine the squad before La Liga resumes.
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