Club World Cup opener ends in stalemate

Real Madrid drew with Al Hilal in the opening game of their Club World Cup campaign. Both goals came in the closing stages of the first half, as Gonzalo put our team ahead with 34 minutes gone, rounding off a fine team move. Rubén Neves then converted from the spot to make it 1-1 in the 41st minute. In the 90th minute of the clash, Xabi Alonso's boys could have taken the points, but Bono did well to keep out Valverde's penalty kick. The game also saw debuts for both Trent and Huijsen.

The clash got underway with chances for both sides, although mostly with long-range efforts. Sergej was the first to try his luck inside just two minutes, when his strike from the edge of the box was parried away by Courtois. The response came four minutes later up the other end, where Asencio's decent strike was gathered by Bono. Al Hilal then enjoyed a great chance to take the lead with 10 minutes played, but Marcos Leonardo's shot from six yards out whistled just wide of the upright.

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The minutes ticked by with few chances of note up until the cooling break. That's when Xabi Alonso's team stepped on the gas and Rodrygo's left-footed effort that flew over the bar on 33' was a warning of things to come. One minute later, the madridistas were ahead. The goal came from a swift counter that was started by Gonzalo, who lent the ball to Vini Jr. and Valverde, who found Rodrygo. The Brazilian sent an inch-perfect ball across the box, where the academy graduate was waiting to stroke the ball past Bono and into the back of the net. Just when it looked like half-time would come around at 1-0, Argentine referee Facundo Tello pointed to the spot for Asencio's slight pull on Marcos Leonardo in the box. Rubén Neves stepped up to convert with 41 minutes gone.

Arda Güler hits the bar
The half-time 1-1 scoreline could have budged almost immediately following the restart. Vini Jr. crossed on 46’ and Arda Güler, who had come on in place of Asencio, smashed the ball against the crossbar with his left boot. Xabi Alonso's boys were looking increasingly dominant now, and they could have taken the lead on 61’, again with Vini Jr. crossing into the box. This time, Gonzalo headed towards goal at the back post, but Bono did brilliantly to claw the ball away. The keeper was then called into action again twelve minutes later to repel Valverde's shot from inside the area.

Our team had Al Hilal pegged back inside their own half, but were struggling to find the opening that would yield the winning goal. With 87 minutes on the clock, Al Qahtani left an arm on Fran García's face inside the box. Facundo Tello didn't initially point to the spot, but after being called to the monitor by VAR, he altered his original decision. Valverde stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Bono went the right way and saved. In time added-on, Gonzalo had another superb header well kept out by Bono.