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Real Madrid held by Al Hilal on Alexander-Arnold debut

50d8c13b-b672-49a1-a0d6-7baec5410a48.jpg.webpGetty Images

Another night of football comes to an end after an entertaining draw between Real Madrid and Al-Hilal.

Join us again tomorrow for more Club World Cup action.

We’ll see you then, goodnight!

a0bb778d-1de0-4436-801f-c6aa1b05a204.jpg.webpShay Given
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on Channel 5

We know Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quality on the ball – he is a phenomenal player.

Real Madrid in the Spanish league will have a lot of possession and Trent will play higher up the pitch.

He will be questioned in this tournament defensively as they come up against stronger opposition. Can he step up?

He said he wanted to go there and win the Ballon d’Or.

That’s a big statement in itself.

Both of these sides are next in action in four days with Real taking on Pachuca at 20:00 BST and RB Salzburg going up against Al-Hilal three hours later.

If any of you haven’t had enough football for tonight then the other two sides in Group H go head-to-head at 23:00 BST.

Pachuca take on RB Salzburg at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

We won’t be live texting that one but you can read our report in the morning.

bf8fe07d-6c0b-424d-adb0-3e5f05beea44.jpg.webpJohn Obi Mikel
Former Chelsea midfielder speaking on Channel 5

9bc8990b-69c3-4b70-b245-42d7b839f4c4.jpg.webpGetty Images

Xabi Alonso needs time at the training ground. He has a different style of play. For me, this is something different for him. He is coming into the big league where he is managing big egos.

e5b12344-5480-46bb-ac40-217585052981.jpg.webpReal Madrid

Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, speaking to Channel 5: “After playing a game, it is hard to concentrate that much to speaking Spanish.

“An amazing day to make my debut for Real Madrid. Something almost what every player dreams of. To be able to achieve that is huge for me.

“Some disappointment to not have won the game. It’s the mentality you need to have as a Real Madrid player is to want and to expect to win every game you’re playing, disappointed to not do that, but a lot of positives, especially in the second half.”

On the support: “Incredible. I felt the support from the moment I signed with the club. Sensational.

“The fanbase is truly global all over the world. You feel it every single day.

“A huge thank you for that. We dominated the stands today, which was incredible.

“The support is truly amazing.”

On the game: “I think in the second half we kept the ball really well – that is what we lacked maybe first half. In this heat, it is probably best to keep hold of the ball as best as you can and let the other team do all the running.

“We did that in the second half, we made them sit deep.

“We were in and around their box a lot. It just wasn’t meant to be.

“We had the penalty late on, but these things happen in football.

“Nobody is to blame, and we take the positives, and we have things we can work on.

“I am sure we will do that going into the next game.”

On how long he had been learning Spanish: “Not too long. A couple of months.

“It was something I found very important for me to do.

“It is important to show the intent that I want to embrace the culture, immerse myself in it and adapt as best as possible.”

df7fb2bb-51f9-447f-bed1-79f9d7a5d957.jpg.webpAl-Hilal

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Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves, speaking to Channel 5: “A very good game from us. They prepared well again and we showed it today.

“They scored a goal, and we knew at a moment they were very strong in the counter-attack.

“I think it was a fantastic performance from the team.

“A positive result. We are playing against one of the biggest teams in the world.

“Everyone saw we didn’t come here to draw. We came here to win.”

John Obi-Mikel in the studio doesn’t seem to believe Trent Alexander-Arnold when he says he’s been learning Spanish for just a couple of months.

e5b12344-5480-46bb-ac40-217585052981.jpg.webpReal Madrid

1563ccd6-f6d5-4f95-aa57-24d4db7cb464.jpg.webpGetty Images

Trent Alexander-Arnold says it was a “dream come true” to make his Real Madrid debut.

Full quotes to come.

e5b12344-5480-46bb-ac40-217585052981.jpg.webpReal Madrid

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, speaking to Channel 5: “I would say the first half was not as good as the second one.

“Every game we need to take positives and learn on what we can improve. Every game will give us lessons to keep improving.”

On Vinicius Jr. injury: “Yes, started some cramps. it was a really demanding game.”

On the Real Madrid support in Miami: “Great support, great crowd. We are delighted with that.”

a0bb778d-1de0-4436-801f-c6aa1b05a204.jpg.webpShay Given
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on Channel 5

Al-Hilal never panicked. Simone Inzaghi has only been there a week and he has had a great impact.

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We’ll soon be hearing from Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso as he gives his thoughts on the draw.

Stick with us for that.

I’ll take back a lot bad stuff I said about this tournament because of this very funny result.

Robbie, Edinburgh

ee15b025-c7ee-4013-87fc-07bf23fed1a2.jpg.webpGetty Images

Callum Wilson makes the point on Channel 5 that if Fran Garcia was taller then the arm hits him on the chest, rather than the face.

a0bb778d-1de0-4436-801f-c6aa1b05a204.jpg.webpShay Given
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on Channel 5

I am glad a bit of justice was kind of done at the end.

I didn’t feel it was a penalty.

923d03e1-b5f5-4186-af06-1594fafa92ad.jpg.webpGetty Images

I was trying to refrain from the U2 puns, Shay.

a0bb778d-1de0-4436-801f-c6aa1b05a204.jpg.webpShay Given
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on Channel 5

It’s a beautiful day for Bono.

Was justice done when Bono kept out Fede Valverde’s penalty?

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed that match.

2790c7b7-a080-45c3-b3e4-a99fb9dfa489.png.webpReuters

It’s all over and the first game of the Xabi Alonso era at Real Madrid ends in a 1-1 draw.

Stunning result for Al-Hilal.

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Steve Sutcliffe

BBC Sport journalist

Real Madrid dramatically had a stoppage-time penalty saved as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s debut for the club ended in a hard-fought draw with Al-Hilal in their opening Fifa Club World Cup match in Miami.

Federico Valverde’s spot-kick, which was awarded after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, was superbly pushed out by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after Mohammed Al-Qahtani was penalised when his flaying arm caught Real left-back Fran Garcia

Gonzalo Garcia had opened the scoring for the 15-time European champions shortly after the half-hour mark, with the 21-year-old fortuitously lifting the ball over Bounou at the end of a sweeping counter-attack.

However, at that stage it was completely against the run of play with the Saudi Pro League side creating a flurry of openings early, dominating possession and looking the more assertive.

In Simone Inzaghi’s first game as Al-Hilal boss following his departure from Champions League runners-up Inter Milan, his side deservedly levelled four minutes before the break.

Former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves calmly converted from the penalty spot after Real defender Raul Asencio pulled back Marcos Leonardo in the area.

Substitute Arda Guler cannoned a shot against the crossbar and Gonzalo Garcia had a header brilliantly saved by Bounou as Real stepped things up after the break – against the side they defeated 5-3 in the final of this competition three years ago.

Xabi Alonso, also taking charge of his first game as Real manager since replacing Carlo Ancelotti, was without Kylian Mbappe and his attack missed the Frenchman.

Prior to Valverde’s late aberration, Real repeatedly looked vulnerable at the back despite first starts for right-back Alexander-Arnold, who played 65 minutes before being taken off, and £50m Spain centre-back Dean Huijsen.

Had Brazilian forward Leonardo not spurned two excellent second-half chances, the Saudi club could even have been celebrating a famous win.

What was the main talking point?

Prior to the contest all eyes were on Alexander-Arnold and Huijsen, both high-profile additions to Real’s backline this summer.

There was also plenty of scrutiny on the technical areas with Alonso taking charge of the Spanish side he represented with such distinction as a midfielder.

Yet Inzaghi will likely be the more satisfied, with his unfancied Al-Hilal side impressing and threatening to deliver a remarkable result even without a prolific marksman of their own, given Aleksandar Mitrovic was ruled out through injury.

The Italian boss has had to shrug off criticism over the controversial manner of his departure from Inter just two weeks ago.

But his players delivered an encouraging display that suggests they have been receptive to his way of working in such limited time.

Who stood out and who did not?

Alexander-Arnold performed steadily on his first appearance since his move from Liverpool, before being withdrawn midway through the second half.

England international Jude Bellingham’s influence also grew as the contest wore on, although Real’s main source of danger came from Rodrygo on the right and the willing running of Madrid-born striker Gonzalo Garcia.

However, for long periods Neves, former Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Al-Dawsari impressed to lay a positive platform for Al-Hilal against their illustrious opponents.

The Player Rater cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable JavaScript or try another browser.

Player of the match

Rúben Neves

star.63d2406f0f.svg8.24

24 Dean Huijsen

5.52

10 L. Modrić

5.45

1 T. Courtois

5.30

20 Fran García

5.09

15 A. Güler

5.00

30 Gonzalo García

4.99

35 Raúl Asencio

4.94

11 Rodrygo

4.91

14 A. Tchouaméni

4.80

17 Lucas Vázquez

4.75

8 F. Valverde

4.69

21 Brahim Díaz

4.68

44 Víctor Muñoz

4.66

5 J. Bellingham

4.58

7 Vinícius Júnior

4.56

12 T. Alexander-Arnold

3.41

Back to team tabs

8 Rúben Neves

8.24

37 Y. Bounou

8.11

3 K. Koulibaly

8.00

20 João Cancelo

7.91

22 S. Milinković-Savić

7.78

29 Salem Al Dawsari

7.72

6 Renan Lodi

7.62

87 Hassan Al Tambakti

7.58

77 Malcom

7.55

16 Nasser Al Dawsari

7.54

11 Marcos Leonardo

7.52

88 Hamad Al Yami

7.34

28 Mohamed Kanno

7.29

24 Moteb Al Harbi

7.28

18 Musab Al Juwayr

7.26

15 Mohammed Al Qahtani

7.22

Back to team tabs

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

What’s next for these teams?

Real Madrid next take on Mexican side Pachuca in Group H on Sunday (20:00 BST) in Charlotte, while Al-Hilal face RB Salzburg later the same day (23:00 BST) in Washington DC.

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