Club World Cup - Valverde misses a point and scores Gonzalo scores, Alonso coaches Real Madrid for the first time 1-1 New January!

In the early morning of June 19, 2025, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA ushered in the focus battle of Group H of the 2025 Club World Cup group stage, with Real Madrid against Riyadh Crescent. This is not only the first heavy showdown in the new season of the Club World Cup, but also the first appearance of Xavi Alonso since officially coaching Real Madrid. Although Real Madrid scored first by Gonzalo Garcia, Valverde missed a penalty in stoppage time, and in the end, the two sides shook hands 1-1, revealing the first upset of this game.

1. Alonso's debut: tactical innovation and potential dangers coexist

As Real Madrid's legendary midfielder, Alonso returned to the Bernabeu system as the head coach this time, shouldering the important task of reshaping the team's tactical style. Before the game, he emphasized the concept of "11-man integrated oppression" and tried to change the problem of loose defense in the Ancelotti era. In this game, Alonso made bold adjustments to the lineup, with new players Arnold and Heysen starting, with Arnold being arranged at the right back position, while Heysen partnered with Asensio to serve as the center back.

However, Real Madrid's defense exposed obvious problems early in the game. Arnold's defensive shortcomings were targeted by Riyadh Crescent, and Saudi team's wing attackers Lodi and Dosari frequently hit the right side of their guard, causing Arnold to lose his position many times. According to statistics, Arnold conceded the ball 12 times in the game, and only 1 success in 5 matches, and his performance on the defensive end has been criticized. In addition, Asensio made a foul in the penalty area in the first half and gave the opponent a penalty kick. Ruben Neves took the penalty and equalized the score. This mistake also highlighted the instability of Real Madrid's defense line. In the second half, Alonso made a tactical adjustment and changed the formation to three central defenders. Guillail replaced Asensio in an attempt to strengthen the stability of the defense. This change has achieved certain results. Real Madrid has improved in ball control and offensive organization. Guilla's long shot hit the crossbar, and Garcia's supplementary shot was also saved by goalkeeper Bunu, and the team gradually regained the rhythm of the game. Alonso said after the game that the adjustments in the second half made the team "more balanced and better possession", but he also admitted that the problem of the defense line needs time to be resolved.

2. The regret of young forces emerging and key mistakes

On the offensive end, the young players of Real Madrid showed vitality. As the starting center, Gonzalo Garcia calmly scored after receiving a cross from Rodrigo from the right in the 34th minute, opening the team's first record. The young player's goal not only showed his sense of smell in front of the goal, but also injected confidence into Alonso's youthful strategy. In addition, Guillail's appearance in the second half also had a positive impact, and his long shots and running added variables to Real Madrid's offense.

However, the turning point of the game occurred in stoppage time. Fran Garcia was fouled by Catani in the penalty area and the referee awarded a penalty kick. Valverde's penalty kick was saved by Riyadh Crescent goalkeeper Bunu, missing a chance to win. This mistake not only made Real Madrid miss three-pointers, but also made Valverde the focus of post-match public opinion. Courtois said after the game that Valverde had sufficient shooting power, but failed to observe the goalkeeper's movements, resulting in being saved.

3. Riyadh Crescent's tenacity and Asian football breakthroughs

Riyadh Crescent showed tenacious fighting spirit and excellent tactical execution in this game. Coach Inzaghi, Little Inzaghi, has formulated a strategy for a strong attack on the wing to address Real Madrid's weak defense on the right, and the impact of Lodi and Dosari has created threats many times. Although Mitrovic is out due to injury, the performance of Saudi players such as S-Dosari, Tambati and others is eye-catching, and their fighting spirit and tactical discipline have laid the foundation for the team.

It is worth mentioning that Riyadh Crescent goalkeeper Bunu became the team's hero. He not only saved Valverde's penalty, but also resolved Real Madrid's offense many times to ensure that the team got a valuable point. This draw was not only the first Asian team's club in this Club World Cup, but also ended Real Madrid's 11-game winning streak in the Club World Cup, creating history.

4. Post-match reflection: Real Madrid's challenge and future prospects

For Real Madrid, this draw is both a setback and a warning. After the game, Alonso admitted that the team needed time to adapt to his tactical system, especially in terms of coordination on the defensive end and offensive efficiency, there was still a lot of room for improvement. He specifically mentioned that the team only worked out three times in training, and insufficient tacit understanding was one of the reasons for the mistakes.

After this game, Real Madrid's qualifying situation in the Club World Cup remains optimistic. Next, they will play against Mexico's Pachuca and Austria's Salzburg Red Bull, two matches that are seen as key to adjusting their form. Alonso said he will continue to trust young players and adjust his tactics according to his opponent's characteristics.

Riyadh Crescent took advantage of this draw. Inzaji Xiao was satisfied with the team's performance and emphasized that the team will continue to improve physical fitness and tactical execution, and strive to go further in subsequent games.

Conclusion

Alonso's Real Madrid debut ended with a draw, which included both the surprises of young players and the regret of defensive mistakes. This game not only tests Real Madrid's tactical changes, but also shows the progress of the Riyadh Crescent. For Real Madrid, how to solve the problem of defense and improve the psychological quality of key players will be the key to the next journey of the Club World Cup. Riyadh Crescent's performance has won respect for Asian football on the international stage. As the Club World Cup deepens, this draw may just be the beginning, and more exciting stories are still waiting to be staged.