Al Hilal Holds Real Madrid, Logical Defeat for Wydad, and Heavy Loss for Al Ain
Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal managed to hold Spain’s Real Madrid to a 1–1 draw in the FIFA Club World Cup currently taking place in the United States. The tournament also saw a logical defeat for Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca against Manchester City (0–2), and a heavy 0–5 loss for the UAE's Al Ain to Italy’s Juventus.
The opening Group H match between Hilal and Real Madrid was filled with drama until the final whistle. The Spanish side was awarded a controversial stoppage-time penalty that sparked furious protests from Hilal players. Federico Valverde stepped up to take it in the 90+2 minute, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a stunning save to preserve the draw.
Real Madrid were without their top scorer Kylian Mbappé, sidelined due to illness. In his absence, reserve forward Gonzalo García got the start and made an immediate impact by opening the scoring. He launched a counterattack from the edge of his own penalty area after receiving a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, beat two players, and passed to Vinícius Júnior, who found Valverde. Valverde then released Rodrygo down the right, whose low cross was tapped in at the far post by an unmarked García (34).
Hilal quickly responded with an equalizer after Leonardo was fouled in the box by Raúl Asensio (40). Portuguese midfielder Rúben Neves calmly converted the penalty with a right-footed strike to the left of Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois (41).
In the same group, Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg edged Mexico’s Pachuca 2–1 in a match that was delayed for 90 minutes during the second half due to severe weather conditions. Oscar Gloukh gave Salzburg the lead with a strike from outside the box (42), while Pachuca equalized through a stunning free-kick from Bryan González (56). Substitute Karim Onisiwo secured the win with a header after a flowing team move (76).
Two Arab Losses in Group G
Group G was disappointing for Arab fans as both representatives suffered defeat. Wydad Casablanca lost 0–2 to Manchester City, who struck early through Phil Foden (2) and doubled their lead via Belgian winger Jérémy Doku (42).
Meanwhile, Al Ain suffered a crushing 0–5 defeat to Juventus. The Italian side’s goals came from Frenchman Randal Kolo Muani (11, 45+4), Portuguese winger Francisco Conceição (21, 58), and Turkish international Kenan Yıldız (31).
The scale of the defeat was surprising, especially given Al Ain's recent squad reinforcements, which included eight new players—five of them defenders—and experienced Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patrício, who conceded all five goals amid a visibly chaotic defensive display.
Juventus took the lead with a powerful header from Kolo Muani off a cross by Alberto Cošta (11). Conceição doubled the advantage after intercepting a poor clearance by Rami Rabia, weaving through the defense, and finishing with precision (21). Yıldız then unleashed a superb strike from distance (31), before Kolo Muani bagged his second and Juve’s fourth following a long ball from compatriot Khéphren Thuram (45+4)—marking the first time Juventus had scored four first-half goals since February 2018, against Sassuolo in Serie A.
Conceição rounded off the rout with his second of the night, finishing low after a dazzling solo run down the right flank (58), sealing “the Old Lady’s” third consecutive win—something they hadn’t achieved since February, when they won four in a row.
