This Wednesday, the Club World Cup presents an intriguing contest at Hard Rock Stadium, with Real Madrid, widely regarded as one of the best football clubs around, squaring off against Saudi Pro League’s Al Hilal, which aspires to be the world’s foremost football league.
This ambition was echoed by their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently stated that the Saudi league has surpassed Ligue 1 in terms of competitiveness.
Al Hilal has claimed six out of the last nine domestic league crowns, but they narrowly missed out this season to Al Ittihad.
This inability to retain their title led to Jorge Jesus being dismissed, despite being the most successful manager in the club’s history with 81 wins from his first 96 matches in charge.
A Challenging Start for Inzaghi
Simone Inzaghi, the former Inter Milan boss, took the reins shortly after the Nerazzurri’s humiliating Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. This has raised questions about whether his squad were aware of his impending move ahead of that match.
“I heard a myriad of things today, as has often been the case during my four years at Inter,” the Italian remarked in a recent press conference.
“If accusations about my integrity are the price to pay for my four years at Inter, I’m more than willing to accept that. However, it pales in comparison to the immense good I received from the Inter community—fans, management, players, and everyone else.”
“I will miss it all—the good and the bad, including the unfair criticisms faced over those four years. But I truly relished my time there, giving my all.”
Xabi Alonso’s Debut in the Dugout
Real Madrid will also feature a new face in the managerial role—Xabi Alonso aims to continue Los Blancos’ dominance in the Club World Cup, targeting a record sixth title.
The two teams have crossed paths in the tournament’s earlier format, where the LaLiga giants triumphed 5-3 in the 2022 final, marking their only encounter thus far.
Expect plenty of goals in this clash, given that Real Madrid has seen more than three goals in their last four Club World Cup outings and both teams contributing to the scoring.
On a more encouraging note for the Spaniards, they have scored at least two goals in their last six competitive matches.
Inzaghi has faced Real Madrid thrice in his managerial career, including against Alonso, but unfortunately for him, he’s yet to record a win, with his teams failing to find the back of the net on all occasions.
Al Hilal’s Offence is No Walk in the Park
Al Hilal boasts a formidable attacking line, featuring players like Aleksandar Mitrovic, who netted 19 goals in 23 SPL matches last season, and Marcos Leonardo, who scored 17 times in 24 appearances. This offensive threat will be crucial if they are to challenge the Spaniards.
To Al Hilal’s relief, it seems that European Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe may not feature due to fever, while Vinicius Jr. is also uncertain due to an injury.
However, Inzaghi’s squad might be impacted by the potential absence of as many as six regular starters from Al Hilal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is anticipated to make his debut, as Real has reached an agreement with Liverpool for the right-back to depart the Reds early. He will team up with fellow England international Jude Bellingham.
Both players are expected to inject some much-needed energy into a Madrid side that has occasionally appeared sluggish during the 2024/25 season, and it would certainly be surprising if their opponents do not experience periods of pressure.
Despite this, with Al Hilal having scored a remarkable 95 goals in the SPL last season—15 more than any other team—they certainly have the capacity to trouble a Real Madrid defence that showed some vulnerabilities under pressure during the recent campaign.
Huijsen Faces a Tough Test
The signing of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth was undoubtedly a response to Real Madrid’s defensive issues, and he will don the famous white shirt for the first time in what might well be an altered lineup for this opening match.
However, the talented 20-year-old will certainly be challenged by players like Mitrovic and Leonardo. Additionally, preventing the supply from Malcom, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves, and others will be crucial if Real Madrid hopes to avoid an embarrassing defeat, all due respect to Al Hilal.
A victory for either side would substantially boost their confidence and establish a strong indication for the rest of Group H’s fixtures, which will continue immediately afterward with Pachuca facing RB Salzburg.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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