Xabi Alonso has an opportunity to begin his Real Madrid tenure on a positive note when the Spanish giants tackle Saudi champions Al-Hilal in a Group H fixture at the FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Former Bayer Leverkusen Coach Alonso replaced Italian great Carlo Ancelotti this summer. In the 2023 Club World Cup, Madrid thrashed Al-Hilal 5-3 in an entertaining game. The Saudi team, which won the 2021 AFC Champions League, represents the Saudi Pro League, which has continued to make its presence felt in the global football conversation through the poaching of players from other leagues. Real Madrid is a huge favorite to win the game. Los Blancos, the most successful club in this competition, are aiming for a tenth Club World Cup trophy.
Bet on Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal with Bet365
- FOOTBALL: Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal, FIFA Club World Cup, Group Stage
- Where to Watch: DAZN, 5, FIFA TV, Fancode, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Supersport, TUDN, TNT
- Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida, USA
- Date: 18.06.2025 12:00 EST
Real Madrid
Los Blancos changed their manager after a poor season by their lofty standards. Carlo Ancelotti's side finished second in La Liga, four points adrift of their rivals, Barcelona. The Catalans also denied them the Copa del Rey title, before Arsenal completed the poor season by dumping the Madrid giants out of the UEFA Champions League, beating them home and away in the quarterfinal. The Madrid hierarchy did not hesitate to wield the axe, firing the Italian Coach and replacing him with a former player who had won the Bundesliga last year with Leverkusen. Although Los Blancos are rarely described as Galacticos nowadays, Real Madrid have gone to the 2025 Club World Cup with a deep squad sprinkled with a healthy dose of academy players. New signings Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold, bought from Bournemouth and Liverpool in the special transfer window opened before the global showpiece, have joined their new team and will make their debuts in this game.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Ascencio, Huijsen, Garcia, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Guler, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Bet on Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal with Bet365Al-Hilal
The Saudi champions recently hired Simeone Inzaghi to lead them. Inzaghi, who won Serie A last year with Inter, failed at the final hurdle of the UEFA Champions League last month when they were thrashed 5-0 by Paris St. Germain. The Inter Milan hierarchy immediately let go of Inzaghi, who was quickly picked up by the Saudi giants. Al-Hilal is second in the Saudi Pro League standings. They have won four out of their last five games, with the other game a draw. Their last defeat was a home loss to Al-Ahli in the AFC Champions League semifinal. The Al-Hilal team has many household names from European football, including Aleksander Mitrovic, João Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Malcolm, and Kalidou Koulibaly.
Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Bono; Aldawsari, Koulibaly, Albulayhi, Cancelo, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Lodi, Malcolm, Marcos, Leonardo, Mitrovic
Betting Odds
Al-Hilal Riyadh are 10.6 underdogs on 1xbet. The bookmaker offers both teams to score at 1.727. On Betway, a draw is listed at 5.80 odds, with 3.5 offered at 1.87. Kylian Mbappe to score anytime is offered at 1.50 by Bet365. The sportsbook also lists a half-time/full-time win for Real Madrid at 1.72 odds. Read more here.
Bet on Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal with Bet365
