Real Madrid settles for shock draw vs. Al-Hilal in Club World Cup: Highlights
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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Real Madrid entered the FIFA Club World Cup as the favorites to win it all, but new coach Xabi Alonso warned fans before their opening match.
The most popular soccer club in the world is in a state of transition. And they'll need their two other group stage matches to make something happen fast.
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Real Madrid's Arda Güler missed a penalty kick in stoppage time, forcing them to settle for a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al-Hilal on Wednesday in the opening match for both clubs at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Is a draw an upset? Al-Hilal was a heavy underdog (+475) and a draw had even longer odds (+650), while Real Madrid (-285) was a heavy favorite to win, according to BETMGM.
Or did the unforgiving South Florida heat play a role in one of the surprising results in the first week of the Club World Cup? The 3 p.m. ET start, beaming sun, and temperatures above 90 degrees played a role in the match for the 62,415 fans in attendance, and the goal scorers.
Real Madrid's Gonzalo García scored in the 34th minute, making the most of his opportunity starting in place of French World Cup champion Kylian Mbappe – sidelined with the fever.
Al-Hilal's Rúben Neves scored a penalty kick in the 41st minute to tie the match before halftime.
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As both clubs fired shots in the second half to steal the result, players began leaving the match as substitutes as the heat played a factor.
Al-Hilal's Nasser Al-Dawsari dropped to the pitch after a stoppage in play, and FIFA medical officials trotted onto the field to treat him before he walked off on his own in the 76th minute.
Shortly after, Neves laid on the pitch with a cramp as two teammates tried to help him stretch. He finished the match.
Real Madrid star Vinicus Junior came off in the 80th minute, even though he played in the shade covering the south part of the pitch at Hard Rock Stadium.
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And Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham came off in the 84th minute, although that may have been so Croatian Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric could come on to a rousing ovation from fans.
Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rodygo also came off in the 65th minute so backups could come on and help the effort.
The biggest moment of the match was the penalty not secured by Real Madrid.
Al-Hilal's Mohammed Al-Qahtani tried to box out Real Madrid's Fran García in the penalty area, but elbowed him. The penalty was awarded after VAR in the 90th minute.
Güler was unable to convert.
Real Madrid and Al-Hilal come away with a point each after their first Club World Cup match.
Real Madrid starts second half with two misses: Real Madrid 1, Al-Hilal 1
Arda Güler hit the crossbar with a left footed shot, was followed by Gonzalo García's header attempt in the 46th minute as the second half began. The crowd at Hard Rock Stadium roared loudly at both attempts, nearly scored and assisted by Vini Jr.
Salem Al-Dawsari nearly misses shot: Real Madrid 1, Al-Hilal 1
Al-Hilal's captain nearly scored just before halftime, missing an opportunity to give his side the lead.
Rúben Neves scores penalty kick: Real Madrid 1, Al-Hilal 1
Rúben Neves scores a penalty in the 41st minute, and Al-Hilal has tied the match just before halftime.
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The chance was created after Real Madrid centerback Raúl Asencio knocked over Al-Hilal's Marcos Leonardo in the penalty area.
Gonzalo García goal: Real Madrid 1, Al-Hilal 0
Real Madrid is on the board in this one with Gonzalo García applying the finish on a pass from Rodrygo in the 34th minute. García, starting in place of Kylian Mbappe, makes the most of his opportunity.
Rodrygo's left boot barely flies over net: Real Madrid 0, Al-Hilal 0
Rodrygo nearly scored in the 33rd minute, his left boot from the right side barely missing the crossbar and sent over.
Al-Hilal finds back of net, but offsides: Real Madrid 0, Al-Hilal 0
Al-Hilal's Renan Lodi would have scored this goal, had he not been offsides in the 19th minute.
Vinícius Júnior gets yellow card: Real Madrid 0, Al-Hilal 0
Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior was shown a yellow card in the 15th minute after this sequence captured by the referee camera. He also appeared upset to not receive a favorable call earlier in the match.
Al-Hilal misses another shot in opening minutes: Real Madrid 0, Al-Hilal 0
Al-Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari nearly scored this left boot in the 9th minute of the match.
Al-Hilal fires shot in opening minutes: Real Madrid 0, Al-Hilal 0
Al-Hilal's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic fired this shot in the second minute of the match, saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Real Madrid enters the pitch for pregame warmups
Is Mbappe playing vs. Al-Hilal? Real Madrid starting lineup
No, Mbappe was not listed as a starter or substitute in Real Madrid's starting lineup. He was also not seen coming off the Real Madrid bus before the match.
What time is the Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal match?
The match begins at 3 p.m. ET (9 p.m. in Madrid, Spain and 10 p.m. in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
How to watch Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal on TV and live stream?
The match is available to watch on TNT and TruTV in English on TV, and available to live stream for free on DAZN (Watch now).
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Watch Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal on DAZN
What did Xabi Alonso say about Mbappe's condition?
Mbappe did not practice on Tuesday with Real Madrid. Alonso said Mbappe 'was feeling a bit better, but not fully fit. We thought it was not best for him to go to the training session.
'We'll see how he evolves. We're going to be waiting for him until the last minute. We'll make a decision to him [Wednesday] morning.'
Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal betting odds
Here are the betting odds for the match, according to BETMGM.
Real Madrid: -285
Al-Hilal: +475
Draw: +650
Over/under: 3.5 goals
Real Madrid upcoming schedule in FIFA Club World Cup
June 22: Real Madrid vs. CF Pachuca (Mexico), 3 p.m. ET inside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
June 26: Real Madrid vs. FC Salzburg (Austria), 9 p.m. ET inside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal highlights: Why did Mbappe not play in CWC?
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