Trent makes underwhelming start to life at Real Madrid at Club World Cup
REAL MADRID 1-1 AL-HILAL: Trent Alexander-Arnold played 64 minutes in his Real Madrid debut but Los Blancos were held by Saudi outfit Al-Hilal thanks to a last-gasp penalty save
It was a rather uneventful start to life with Real Madrid for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Los Blancos new boy didn't really catch the eye in a laboured performance from the Spanish giants in what was Xabi Alonso's first game in charge.
They were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi side Al-Hilal at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in their Club World Cup opener.
That came after Federico Valverde saw a late penalty saved by Yassine Bounou to deny Real a winning start in America.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, moved to the La Liga outfit early after they paid Liverpool £10m so he could feature in this competition and he made his debut alongside Dean Huijsen, who joined from Bournemouth.
There will be better games to come from the England international once he settles into life with Real after 64 minutes of little action for the right-back before he was replaced by Lucas Vazquez.
It was his interception which started the move for Real's opening goal.
The move ended with Gonzalo Garcia finding the net following an unorthodox finish in the 34th minute.
Their lead lasted just seven minutes before former Wolves man Ruben Neves equalised for Simone Inzaghi's side before the break.
Alexander-Arnold had been caught out earlier in the half before a move which Renan Lodi finished for Al-Hilal but the offside flag went up.
Neves also put in the corner and Hassan Al Tambakti beat Alexander-Arnold to the header but could not find the target.
Alexander-Arnold was looking to ping his trademark long balls from the right-back position and set Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo clear on the left.
The now former Liverpool full-back tried to influence Real's attack on the right going forward before he went off but Alonso's side didn't click into top gear.
Real still had a chance to win it late on when they got a controversial penalty after a VAR review.
Mohammed Al Qahtani was adjudged to have impeded Fran Garcia with a hand to the face but Valverde delivered a poor spot kick.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Thursday's briefing: Mudryk charged and Real held on Alexander-Arnold debut
Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association over an alleged breach of anti-doping regulations. Trent Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid debut ended in frustration at the Club World Cup, but Manchester City's Rico Lewis endured an even more disappointing night as he was sent off. England edged their way into the European Under-21 Championship quarter-finals despite defeat by Germany. Mudryk charged Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association with violating anti-doping rules. The 24-year-old, an £88.5million signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, has not played since being handed a provisional suspension in December after he returned a positive test, reportedly for the banned substance meldonium. An FA statement said: 'We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with anti-doping rule violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of regulations three and four of the FA's anti-doping regulations.' Rico sees red Pep Guardiola leapt to the defence of Rico Lewis after the Manchester City defender's 'unnecessary' sending-off in their Club World Cup opener. Lewis was dismissed by Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti after catching Samuel Obeng in the face following a sliding challenge two minutes from the end of a 2-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca. City boss Guardiola said: 'He touched the ball. For the speed they go to touch the ball – for the Newton's theory your leg has to be a little bit higher and the other player was down. 'Rico had no intention. It was unnecessary, honestly, the red card, but the referee had a different opinion and he's the boss.' Madrid pay the penalty Debutants Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen suffered a frustrating evening in Miami as Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 Club World Cup draw by Saudi side Al Hilal. Madrid boss Xabi Alonso and opposite number Simone Inzaghi were both taking charge of their new clubs for the first time. Gonzalo Garcia fired the Spanish giants into a 34th-minute lead but Ruben Neves levelled from the penalty spot before the break. Alonso's men had the better of the second half, but could not find a way past stubborn opponents as Federico Valverde's stoppage-time penalty was saved. Reigning champions limp into last eight England will play Spain in the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championship after they were beaten 2-1 by Germany in their final group game in Slovakia to finish runners-up in Group B. Lee Carsley's side needed a victory in Nitra to go through to the knockout rounds in first place, but despite already-qualified Germany making 11 changes, the reigning champions struggled to impose themselves. Goals from Ansgar Knauff and Nelson Weiper sent the 2023 winners to defeat and left them to face pre-tournament favourites Spain – who they beat in the final two years ago – in Trnava on Saturday. Bournemouth's Alex Scott tapped home 15 minutes from time from Omari Hutchinson's cross to make it 2-1, with Slovenia's defeat by the Czech Republic enough to secure England's passage. What's on today? The Club World Cup is the focus once again as Lionel Messi's Inter Miami look to register their first win of the competition when they take on Porto in Atlanta, having drawn their opening fixture against Al Ahly 0-0. The Egyptian side are also in action again, this time against Palmeiras.
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Pep Guardiola says referee's decision to dismiss Rico Lewis was ‘unnecessary'
Lewis was dismissed two minutes from the end of an otherwise satisfactory 2-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca in humid conditions in Philadelphia. The England international won the ball when he slid into a challenge with Samuel Obeng, but caught his opponent in the face in his follow through. City manager Guardiola was angered by the Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti's decision and later spoke to the official. Guardiola said: 'He thought the leg was a little bit high, but he was on the grass. He touched the ball. 'For the speed they go to touch the ball – for the Newton's theory your leg has to be a little bit higher and the other player was down. Rico had no intention. 'Rico is the person who never has intention to hurt anyone for his style of play. 'It was unnecessary, honestly, the red card, but the referee had a different opinion and he's the boss. They checked VAR, so we accept it.' The Lewis incident took the gloss off an otherwise professional performance in the Group G opener, won with goals from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku at the beginning and end of the first half. Guardiola said: 'It's so hot. It's not easy, for all the teams. We had good moments with many new players. 'The first game in the group stage is always really, really important. We started really well. After we had some problems, especially when we lost some simple balls but I saw many good things. Thank you for your support in Philadelphia! 🙌🩵 Next stop: Atlanta ✈️ — Manchester City (@ManCity) June 18, 2025 'It was the first game, now we prepare for the next one. Everybody will have to improve because it's so demanding, and it's going to happen.' Guardiola handed debuts to new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki but it was Foden who proved their inspiration, pouncing on a rebound for the opener on two minutes and then setting up Doku's second. Foden endured an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign, but was recently stood down from England duty to refresh for the tournament. Quick off the mark.⚡️#FIFACWC — FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 18, 2025 Guardiola said: 'He was really good. It was a good delivery for the second and the first, always he is there. 'We are pretty pleased and he was playing a position where he has to defend too as a holding midfielder.' City will now return to their training base in Miami before travelling to Atlanta for their next game against Al Ain of Abu Dhabi on Sunday (Monday morning UK time).
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Trent Alexander-Arnold hails ‘incredible' Real Madrid debut despite stalemate
The former Liverpool defender was included in the starting line-up at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium along with Dean Huijsen – a summer signing from Bournemouth – but they and their team-mates had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Asked about the experience afterwards, Alexander-Arnold told DAZN: 'An incredible day. To have made a debut for Real Madrid is something, I think, almost every player dreams of, so to be able to achieve it is huge for me. ☝️🤍 It's a @realmadriden debut kind of day! — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 18, 2025 'Of course, there's some disappointment in there to have not won the game. It's the mentality you need to have as a Real Madrid player, to want and expect to win every game that you playing, so disappointed not to do that. 'But there were a lot of positives, especially in the second half.' The England international was warmly received by the Madrid fans as he played the opening 65 minutes, and thanked them for their support. He added: 'Incredible. I felt the support from the moment I signed with the club, to be honest. Absolutely sensational. Our fanbase is global, truly global, all over the world and you feel it every single day, the fans at training grounds and the hotel, all over social media as well. New beginnings. @realmadrid | #FIFACWC — FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 18, 2025 'The support is incredible, so a huge thank you for that. Of course, we dominated the stands today as well, which was incredible. The support is truly amazing.' If Alexander-Arnold's debut was one of the talking points before the game, it was goalkeeper Bono who was Al Hilal's hero as he saved a late penalty to deny the Spaniards victory. The 34-year-old Morocco international kept out Federico Valverde's stoppage-time spot-kick to ensure it finished all square in the Group H opener in what was a first game in charge for both Madrid boss Xabi Alonso and opposite number Simone Inzaghi. Ruben Neves converted a 41st-minute penalty to cancel out Gonzalo Garcia's opener, but his efforts would have counted for little had it not been for Bono's heroics. Rico Lewis was controversially sent off as Manchester City launched their Club World Cup campaign with a comfortable victory over Wydad Casablanca. Goals from Phil Foden – his first since January – and Jeremy Doku at each end of the first half proved enough for City to see off the Moroccan side 2-0 in Philadelphia. But the Group G encounter ended on a sour note for the Premier League outfit as Lewis was shown a straight red card for catching Samuel Obeng in the face following a challenge two minutes from time. Lincoln Financial Field, home of the reigning Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles, was at nowhere near its 67,594 capacity, but the atmosphere generated – mainly the Wydad Casablanca supporters – by the 37,446 present was still lively.
