Introduction to Xabi Alonso and His New Role
Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid player from 2009 to 2015, made his debut as the club’s new head coach in the Mundial de Clubes 2025. His first match was against Al-Hilal from Arabia Saudita, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Match Recap and Key Moments
Real Madrid took the lead in the 34th minute through Gonzalo García Torres. However, Al-Hilal equalized just before halftime with a penalty converted by Rúben Neves following a foul on Raúl Asencio.
In the final minutes, Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to regain the lead after Fran García was fouled, leading to a penalty. Unfortunately, Federico Valverde’s shot was saved by Al-Hilal’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Background on Xabi Alonso and Carlo Ancelotti
Xabi Alonso spent the last two seasons of Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure at Real Madrid (2021-2025) as a player. Ancelotti recently accepted the role of Brazil’s national team coach, paving the way for Alonso to take over at Real Madrid.
Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title last year, has his work cut out for him as he navigates this new challenge with Real Madrid.
Team Composition and Player Analysis
Despite the absence of star forward Kylian Mbappé due to illness, Alonso fielded a strong lineup featuring Vinícius, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, and Jude Bellingham. Real Madrid controlled 53% of the possession but struggled to convert their chances, even gifting Al-Hilal a penalty.
New signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen saw action from the bench, while Luka Modric and Arda Güler watched from the sidelines.
Al-Hilal boasted an experienced squad, including Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and goal scorer Rúben Neves. The team was managed by Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, who recently lost the Champions League final with Inter Milan against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Post-Match Reflections and Future Outlook
After the match, Alonso acknowledged areas for improvement but remained optimistic about the process. He emphasized that change takes time and repetition.
Real Madrid’s next match is scheduled for Sunday, June 22, against Pachuca at 13:00 Central Mexico Time. Fans hope that Kylian Mbappé will have recovered and be ready to play.
The last encounter between Real Madrid and Pachuca took place in the Copa Intercontinental 2024 final, where Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 3-0 scoreline, thanks to goals from Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Vinícius.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Xabi Alonso? Xabi Alonso is a former Real Madrid player who recently transitioned into coaching the club following Carlo Ancelotti’s departure for Brazil’s national team.
- What was the outcome of Xabi Alonso’s debut match? Real Madrid drew 1-1 against Al-Hilal in the Mundial de Clubes 2025.
- Who are some notable players on both teams? Real Madrid featured Vinícius, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, and Jude Bellingham, while Al-Hilal boasted Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and Rúben Neves.
- What challenges does Xabi Alonso face? Alonso must navigate the absence of Kylian Mbappé and build a cohesive team with new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen.
- When is Real Madrid’s next match? Real Madrid will face Pachuca on Sunday, June 22, at 13:00 Central Mexico Time.
