Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal. Xabi Alonso’s new era began with a match against Al-Hilal on Day 1. The outcome could’ve been better, but the performance could’ve been worse. Competing against a youthful Al-Hilal who showed no fear against a veteran Real Madrid squad, 1-1 was a fair as well as a disappointing result despite a highly tactical affair featuring a lot of firsts—debuts, changes in the starting lineup and penalty calls. Yet thanks to a stop from Yassine Bounou at the end of the second half of stoppage time, it all evened out in the end for both sides.

Real Madrid went ahead 1-0 with a goal from Gonzalo Garcia from a clear shot later in the match as Alonso called for an adjustment mid-first half cooling break—and yet they were behind when it counted. With a slew of corrections mid-game, the temporary goal was a sign of hope, but all was down when Al-Hilal equalized on a penalty kick after Raul Asencio fouled in the box and Ruben Neves tied it up with his successful attempt. This helped Madrid at the end since they, too, had a penalty called—another foul in the box—yet Valverde couldn’t help his team as he failed to convert when he needed to, only for Bounou to deny it and preserve the result.

Bounou’s Late Save Keeps Al-Hilal with a Point on the Road

It’s nearly impossible for Real Madrid to fail from the spot. Yet four minutes into added time was Valverde’s shot request from four yards out not fair. Bounou dove left, guessing right, and not only did he stop the shot from going in, but his quick adjustment to avoid a possible rebound gave Al-Hilal the point.

The penalty awarded for a handball was a bit controversial. Fran Garcia’s swirling ball across the box hit Mohammed Al-Qahtani’s arm—but it appeared accidental. Yet VAR intervention for a number of minutes proved something was amiss, and the referee eventually made the call.

Bounou knows Madrid, having played and beaten them with Sevilla and Atlético, so he came into the game with a mindset to be the difference. He made the save that allowed Al-Hilal to walk away from this match with a tie feeling like a victory.

Inzaghi’s Tactile Identity Already Established

When Al-Hilal hired Simone Inzaghi as their new coach, some speculated that such a big European name had decided to leave the continent behind; however, his team was ready to face Real. It was a team of purpose and identity.

Al-Hilal was well-organized defensively and transitioned quickly; when they had the ball, they kept it on the ground; they weren’t playing for themselves; they were playing for each other. This isn’t merely a recognition of Inzaghi and his Serie A coaching prowess but his translation of such stateside.

There were plenty of Serie A players in prominent positions responsible for the identity as well; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic ran the midfield according to his plan while Kalidou Koulibaly was an immoveable force along the backline. They played like they knew what they were doing and knew each other—which meant this wasn’t just familiarity with the name thing going on..

For Inzaghi, it wasn’t about an opportunity to make a statement to those who hired him. It was an opportunity to state that Al-Hilal belonged in competition with Europe.

Alonso’s Tactical Shift Compared to Ancelotti

Xabi Alonso only trained with Real Madrid for a few days, but he was already part of the picture. While Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid operated in fragmented stages at times and relied on instinct and natural talent to push through, Alonso’s approach is much more cohesive.

There was a higher press, closer distances, and a more cohesive shape. Where Madrid started in a 4-3-3 and widened as the game progressed, the 15 minutes had more of a condensed approach. They did push Al-Hilal back into their third to start, and yet one quick transition almost brought disaster, prevented only by Courtois’s trademark magic.

Alonso made key in-game adjustments. Raul Asencio struggled to find his footing early on and came off at half for Arda Guler, who almost netted right after coming on—his first shot hitting the crossbar. Gonzalo Garcia got on the board after dropping deeper to turn and connect—something Alonso gestured to during the match.

There’s still a long way to go, but Alonso provided a more clear identity for an already established club. Now the only thing left to do is see if such an identity can yield results.

Alexander-Arnold’s Tough Madrid Debut

Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t have the best introduction to Real Madrid—and for good reason. He was continually caught in between being a right back and the hybrid off-center back, he looked uncomfortable the entire match.

He was also targeted. Nearly 50% of Al-Hilal’s attacks came down his side. Due to the confusion in Madrid’s back line, both Salem Al-Dawsari and Renan Lodi had too much space down the left.
Also, Alexander-Arnold’s trademarked long balls didn’t pan out. He attempted two cross-field switches—one to Vinicius, one behind the back to Rodrygo—but none connected.

Not the greatest start—but it wasn’t fully his fault. Alonso is still figuring out how to use the Englishman to his potential, and the defensive structure interplay isn’t yet naturalized.

Salem Al-Dawsari Show

Despite Jude Bellingham and Vinicius and Milinkovic-Savic sharing the field during various times, none had the impact of Salem Al-Dawsari. The 33-year-old seasoned veteran captain created an urgency of play, an enthusiasm, and a professionalism on the pitch.

He nearly scored in the first half bending one wide and he was running through Madrid defenders as if they were cones in a practice. His confidence and calmness in micro-spaces was evident all night long.

Yet Al-Dawsari didn’t need a goal to make his presence known. He was involved—well, his foot— in everything positive that Al-Hilal accomplished, stretching the Madrid backline and opening space for himself and others. If anyone didn’t know who he was going into the match, they surely did afterward.

Statistics to note; Positional play overview

• Possession: Real Madrid 58% – 42% Al-Hilal
• Shots On Target: Madrid 6, Al-Hilal 4
• Fouls Committed: Madrid 13, Al-Hilal 11
• Pass Completion Rate: Madrid 89%, Al-Hilal 84%
• Corners: Madrid 5, Al-Hilal 3

These represent only a fraction of what happened because there’s so much more unaccounted for in the tabulated world. But for anyone who genuinely watched, you’d understand just how close of a match it actually was.

Fan and Media Reaction

It was a mixed bag. Madrid supporters vented on Twitter about defensive lapses and missed opportunities. Spanish papers reacted as well, noting Alonso’s error-filled debut was still encouraging, and Al-Hilal looked like an coached, cohesive team.

Saudi Arabian publications raved about the performance as if their domestic league was ready to be on European’s playing field. Al-Dawsari was trending worldwide as the game went on, but Bounou unanimously earned man of the match.

Final Thoughts on Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal

More than just a match played in America, this 1-1 draw assessed two teams operating in the present—one in transition and another an upstart team making sense with new ideas.

Xabi Alonso has a clear plan but needs time to implement it. Yet it will come with time, stability. and the board’s trusted patience. As for Simone Inzaghi and Inter, this acknowledgment spreads beyond Europe. For everyone else—football fans—it’s clear the game is evolving worldwide.