Coach’s Debut: First Strokes of a New Era
Xabi Alonso stepped to the touchline for the first time as Real Madrid’s head coach and immediately plunged into the atmosphere of the FIFA Club World Cup. His side opened the group phase against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal and took control of the ball from the very first minute: Toni Kroos’s piercing diagonals, Federico Valverde’s tireless runs and Vinícius Júnior’s early pressing set the tone. That initiative yielded a goal in the 34th minute when Gonzalo García, dropping into the pocket of space between the lines, collected Antonio Rüdiger’s pass, drifted left and drilled a low shot into the far corner – 1-0.
Al-Hilal’s Reply: The Penalty That Changed Everything
It looked as though Los Blancos would take a deserved lead into the break, yet just before half-time an incident involving Nkunku turned the match on its head. The Moroccan squeezed between Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga, forcing the latter to foul him inside the box. Ruben Neves stepped up to the spot and, with ice-cold composure, lifted the ball under the cross-bar – to the delight of the Saudi supporters the score was level. The goal cooled Madrid’s ardour and gave Al-Hilal hope of a sensational result.
Climax: Valverde’s Missed Chance and Alonso’s Emotions
After the interval Alonso doubled down on the flanks, introducing Rodrygo and Brahim Díaz, and the pressure on Yassine Bounou’s goal grew avalanche-like. Even so, during regulation time the Royal Club could not convert their territorial dominance into numbers on the scoreboard. The deadlock finally seemed set to break in the third minute of stoppage time when VAR spotted a handball by Mohammed Al-Bulayhi. Penalty!
Federico Valverde confidently took the ball. The Uruguayan stuttered, aimed for the bottom-right corner, but Bounou guessed correctly, parried the effort and instantly became the hero of the night. Cameras immediately caught Alonso’s reaction: the coach threw his hands upward, then, in despair, touched his head and gave the glass partition of the dug-out a light tap with his fist – as though trying to release the tension.
Afterword: Learning From Mistakes and Looking Ahead
The final whistle found Valverde standing in the middle of the pitch with a blank stare. Alonso went straight to his midfielder, embraced him and spoke at length as both men caught their breath. Watching from the VIP box, club president Florentino Pérez, eyewitnesses said, maintained an Olympic calm, though he too had surely expected a victory.
Next up for Madrid in the group stage is Mexico’s Pachuca, followed by Austria’s Salzburg. To reach the knockout rounds Los Blancos will need the maximum haul of points, and Valverde’s missed penalty may prove a valuable lesson for Alonso’s team: at this level chances squandered remain unforgiven. The coaching staff now have a few days to adjust set pieces, restore confidence to their takers and steady the side. The tournament is only just beginning, and Real’s global ambitions remain unchanged – in Madrid, anything short of the trophy will not be accepted.
