Mbappe-less Real Madrid struggles

PHILADELPHIA (AFP) — Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in new coach Xabi Alonso’s debut at the Club World Cup on Wednesday, after Manchester City got off to a winning start earlier.

Federico Valverde had a stoppage-time penalty saved as Real were forced to settle for a point in the Group H match in Miami having earlier taken the lead.

It was a disappointing outcome for the large contingent of fans of the Spanish side in the impressive crowd of 62,415 at the Hard Rock Stadium.

“The first half wasn’t as good as the second one. In the second half we had better chances, better control. For sure we have the principles to start building something but we could have won,” Alonso told broadcaster DAZN.

The former Bayer Leverkusen coach gave debuts to new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen in defence but Real were missing top scorer Kylian Mbappe for the game.

Gonzalo Garcia was brought into their attack as a result and the 21-year-old seized his chance as he opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark from a Rodrygo assist.

However, Al-Hilal hit back in their new coach Simone Inzaghi’s first game on the bench with Ruben Neves levelling before the break from the penalty spot following a Raul Asencio foul.

Al-Hilal then held out for a point but Real had the chance to claim the victory in stoppage time after Mohammed Al Qahtani was ruled to have put his hand in the face of Fran Garcia in the box.