Group H of the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off on Wednesday. Here’s our preview and prediction for the Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal clash.
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Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal Match: Preview
Real Madrid kick off their FIFA Club World Cup journey on Wednesday, facing Al-Hilal at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
The Spanish giants earned their spot by winning the 2021-22 and 2023-24 UEFA Champions League titles, while Al-Hilal qualified after clinching the 2021 AFC Champions League.
This match marks the debut of Real Madrid’s new head coach, Xabi Alonso, who recently took over from Carlo Ancelotti after arriving from Bayer Leverkusen.
The game may also feature some fresh faces, including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, who joined from Liverpool and Bournemouth, respectively. Madrid reportedly paid around €10 million to Liverpool to secure Alexander-Arnold a month early, allowing him to participate in the group stage—making his immediate involvement highly likely.
While all eyes will be on the England international, fans in Miami will also be eager to watch stars like Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé. Vinícius stands out as one of only four players across Europe’s top five leagues to have both scored 20+ goals (21) and provided 15+ assists (15) this 2024-25 season—a remarkable achievement he’s matched three times, also hitting these numbers in 2021-22 (22 goals, 16 assists) and 2022-23 (23 goals, 19 assists).
Mbappé, meanwhile, leads all players from Europe’s top five leagues this season with 43 goals in 56 appearances across competitions.
Similar to Madrid, who finished runners-up to Barcelona in La Liga, Al-Hilal experienced disappointment in their league campaign, with Al-Ittihad edging them out to claim the Saudi Pro League title.
They also fell short in the Asian Champions League semi-finals, losing to fellow Saudi club Al-Ahli. This defeat resulted in the dismissal of manager Jorge Jesus, who has since been replaced by Simone Inzaghi, arriving from UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan.
Inzaghi inherits a squad rich in talent. Notably, two of the top three players creating the most chances in open play during the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League are Malcom (75) and Salem Al Dawsari (64). Al Dawsari leads the league with both the highest total assists (15) and the most assists from open play (11).
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: Head-to-Head
These sides have met before in the Club World Cup’s previous format back in February 2023. Real Madrid defeated Al-Hilal 5-3 in the final, with Vinicius Jr. and Federico Valverde both scoring braces in a thrilling contest that stands as the joint highest-scoring match in the old tournament format and the highest-scoring final to date.
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Real Madrid – Team News
In goal, Thibaut Courtois is poised to start and maintain his form.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to make his Real Madrid debut against Al-Hilal on Wednesday. On the opposite flank Spaniard Fran Garcia will start.
The England international’s transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu was finalized earlier than anticipated, with Los Blancos reportedly paying Liverpool a £10 million fee to secure his availability for the Club World Cup.
Despite Dani Carvajal’s recent return to training after a lengthy ACL injury layoff, there’s an open right-back spot for Alexander-Arnold to claim.
Xabi Alonso, managing Real Madrid for the first time since replacing Carlo Ancelotti, could also give Dean Huijsen his debut in central defense alongside Raul Asencio.
Although Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, and David Alaba are included in the Club World Cup squad, they are unlikely to feature in the Group H clash as they continue their recovery from injuries.
In midfield, Jude Bellingham is expected to partner Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, which means captain Luka Modric will likely start on the bench as he begins his farewell tour ahead of his departure after the tournament.
Up front, Alonso faces a key decision that Arsenal fans will be watching closely amid recent transfer speculation.
Kylian Mbappé, who missed the last training session before the match due to fever, may not start, potentially giving Rodrygo the nod alongside Vinícius Jr., who is a near certainty to start. The final attacking spot could go to either Brahim Diaz—or Arda Guler.
Given Guler’s natural fit on the right side and his strong form late in the 2024/25 season, he could well earn the start.
Real Madrid – Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper – Courtois
- Defenders – Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, Garcia
- Midfielders – Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham
- Forwards – Guler, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.
Al-Hilal – Team News
Al-Hilal is expected to adjust tactically as Inzaghi favors a 3-5-2 setup, which may require the team to adapt accordingly. Joao Cancelo is in a race to regain full fitness following his absence during the last six league matches.
Ruben Neves is fit and ready to play, while former Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic will spearhead the attack.
Between the sticks, Bono is likely to start, protected by a defensive trio consisting of Kalidou Koulibaly, Hassan Tambakti, and Ali Al-Bulayhi.
Cancelo aims to secure a spot as one of the wing-backs if he recovers in time. Mitrovic remains a key offensive threat, having netted 28 goals across 36 games this season.
Al-Hilal – Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper – Bono
- Defenders – Tambakti, Koulibaly, Al-Bulayhi
- Midfielders – Cancelo, Kanno, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, S. Al-Dawsari
- Forwards – Malcolm, Mitrovic
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: Prediction
Wednesday’s match offers Alonso his first opportunity to apply his tactics in a competitive setting. Although Real Madrid are still adapting to the new leadership, their superior skill and experience are expected to secure them a comfortable win in the opening game.
While Real Madrid navigate the transition under Xabi Alonso, Al-Hilal face a similar challenge with Inzaghi having even less time to settle in.
Ultimately, the depth and quality within the Spanish squad are likely to make the difference in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 Al-Hilal
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: Full Squads
Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Fran González, Sergio Mestre, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, Youssef Enríquez, Jacobo Ramón, Diego Aguado, Raúl Asencio, Jesús Fortea, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, Arda Güler, Dani Ceballos, Chema Andres, Víctor Muñoz, Mario Martin, Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, Endrick, Gonzalo García, Brahim Díaz
Head Coach: Xabi Alonso
Al-Hilal
Yassine Bounou, Mohammed Al Yami, Abdulelah Al Ghamdi, Ahmad Aburasyin, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ali Al Bulayhi, Renan Lodi, João Cancelo, Khalifah Al Dawsari, Yasser Al Shahrani, Moteb Al Harbi, Rayan Al Ghamdi, Saleh Barnawi, Saud Haroun, Saad Al Muthary, Ali Lajami, Hassan Al Tambakti, Hamad Al Yami, Mohammed Al Qahtani, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Rúben Neves, Musab Al Juwayr, Salem Al Dawsari, Nasser Al Dawsari, Mohamed Kanno, Malcom, Abdulellah Al-Malki, Abdulaziz Hadhood, Mohammed Abdullah Muhaysh, Kaio César, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Marcos Leonardo, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Abdullah Al Hamddan, Turki Al Ghumayl
Head Coach: Simone Inzaghi
When and Where To Watch Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The 2025 Club World Cup group stage match between Real Madrid and Al-Hilal is set to begin at 12:30 AM IST on Thursday, June 19, at the Hard Rock Stadium, Florida. The match will be available for live streaming on DAZN for FREE.
Read More: Why Real Madrid Refuse to Pay €50m Release Clause for Alvaro Carreras
FAQs
When and where is the Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal match taking place?
The match is scheduled for 12:30 AM (IST) Thursday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami as part of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Who are the key players to watch for Real Madrid in this game?
Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to make his debut, while Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé are expected to be crucial attacking threats.
What formation is Al-Hilal likely to use under their new coach?
Simone Inzaghi is expected to implement a 3-5-2 formation, focusing on a strong midfield and wing-back system.
Has Real Madrid faced Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup before?
Yes, they met in the 2022 final, where Real Madrid won 5-3 in a high-scoring thriller.
What impact could new managers Alonso and Inzaghi have on their teams?
Both teams are still adapting to their new coaches’ styles, but Real Madrid’s experience and squad depth may give them the edge in this matchup.
