Real Madrid draw 1-1 with Al Hilal

Real Madrid laboured to a 1-1 draw against a spirited Al Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup as Xabi Alonso’s managerial debut failed to launch in Florida.

The 15-time European champions delivered only flashes of promise on Wednesday in searing Miami heat at a nearly sold-out Hard Rock Stadium.

Gonzalo Garcia, stepping in for the fever-stricken Kylian Mbappe, gave Real the lead in the 34th minute with a composed finish after a fine passing move on the right flank.

Portuguese international midfielder Ruben Neves levelled from the spot before halftime, stepped up and sent keeper Thibaut Courtois the wrong way, as Simone Inzaghi’s men showed defensive grit and enough attacking intent to rattle their illustrious opponents.

A last-gasp missed penalty from Federico Valverde summed up a day when Real’s legs, and ideas, wilted in the heat and humidity.

Defeat would have been hard on Al Hilal under new coach Simone Inzaghi. Saudi Arabia’s most successful team had its own chances to win at Hard Rock Stadium before a VAR call saw Madrid awarded the late spot kick.

“The first half was not as good as the second; we improved and had better chances and control,” said Alonso, evaluating his side’s performance with the official broadcaster of the event, DAZN.

“Every game, we need to take positives, we can learn and keep improving.”

On the heat in Miami that hit 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), Alonso added, “It was a really demanding environment.”

While it was an underwhelming start for Alonso, Inzaghi’s Al Hilal made an early statement of its potential by holding its own against the Spanish power._Agencies.