Federico Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty, saved by Yassine Bounou, as Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday (Jun 18).
Real Madrid dramatically had a stoppage-time penalty saved as Trent Alexander-Arnold's debut for the club ended in a hard-fought draw with Al-Hilal in their opening FIFA Club World Cup match in Miami.
Federico Valverde's spot-kick, which was awarded after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, was superbly pushed out by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after Mohammed Al-Qahtani was penalised when his flaying arm caught Real Madrid left-back Fran Garcia.
Gonzalo Garcia had opened the scoring for the 15-time European champions shortly after the half-hour mark, with the 21-year-old fortuitously lifting the ball over Bounou at the end of a sweeping counter-attack.
However, at that stage it was completely against the run of play with the Saudi Pro League side creating a flurry of openings early, dominating possession and looking the more assertive.
In Simone Inzaghi's first game as Al-Hilal boss following his departure from Champions League runners-up Inter Milan, his side deservedly levelled four minutes before the break.
Former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves calmly converted from the penalty spot after Real defender Raul Asencio pulled back Marcos Leonardo in the area.
Substitute Arda Guler cannoned a shot against the crossbar and Gonzalo Garcia had a header brilliantly saved by Bounou as Madrid stepped things up after the break - against the side they defeated 5-3 in the final of this competition three years ago.
Xabi Alonso, also taking charge of his first game as Real Madrid manager since replacing Carlo Ancelotti, was without Kylian Mbappe and his attack missed the Frenchman.
Prior to Valverde's late aberration, Madrid repeatedly looked vulnerable at the back despite first starts for right-back Alexander-Arnold, who played 65 minutes before being taken off, and Spain centre-back Dean Huijsen.
Had Brazilian forward Leonardo not spurned two excellent second-half chances, the Saudi club could even have been celebrating a famous win.
