Real Madrid and Al-Hilal will renew hostilities when they kick off their Club World Cup campaign on June 18.
Los Blancos are the most successful club in the tournament. They’ve won five titles, and their most recent success came against Al-Hilal in the 2022 final.
That showpiece event produced one of the most memorable games in Club World Cup history. Both sides served up an enthralling eight-goal fest, although Madrid came out on top to win 5-3.
Al-Hilal will be gunning for revenge when they square off with the Spanish powerhouse again.
Fans will clamour to buy Real Madrid vs Al Hilal SFC tickets from Seatsnet.com to watch the grudge match live.
Madrid and Al-Hilal are joined in Group H by Mexican side Pachuca and Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg, but it’s fair to say that the spotlight will be on the Spanish giants.
Former midfielder turned manager Xabi Alonso has taken the reins at the Santiago Bernabeu, replacing Madrid legend Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout.
Madrid are heading into a new chapter after shaking off the horrors of last season, where they were completely decimated by arch-rivals Barcelona before going trophyless.
They’ll head into the Club World Cup looking to rectify that anomaly, and few would bet against them doing just that. But Al-Hilal are no strangers to the spotlight either.
The Saudi Pro League (SPL) giants have been aggressive in the transfer market over the past few years and will arrive with a significantly improved squad than the one that faced Madrid three years ago.
If they find their rhythm early and play to their full potential, they could shake things up in a big way.
Match Preview
Having already lifted the trophy a record five times, Madrid are accustomed to being the most successful team in the world.
But the 15-time European champions will be expected to go all the way in this new-look, 32-team format and further solidify their place as kings of the world.
However, Madrid are never far from their own unique version of calamity.
After conquering Spain and Europe to win a double in 2023/24, Los Blancos failed to pick up any major silverware last season, which is a sackable offence for a club of Madrid’s high standards.
Unsurprisingly, Madrid’s disappointing campaign cost Ancelotti his job, but they’ve brought in Alonso, who is a familiar face with fresh ideas.
The former midfield maestro arrives off the back of an outstanding spell at Bayer Leverkusen.
He led the Bundesliga side to a second-placed finish after stripping Bayern Munich of their Bundesliga crown the previous campaign.
The Club World Cup will be Alonso’s first chance to show what he’s capable of and potentially lay down a marker for a new era. Madrid may be heavy favourites, but they can’t afford complacency.
Al-Hilal may not carry Madrid’s global clout, but the Saudi giants boast a squad littered with top talent.
Their blockbuster move for Neymar didn’t work out, but they still have a formidable team, with Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Joao Cancelo in the mix.
Al-Hilal will back themselves to rattle any opponent, and that goes for Madrid too. A repeat of their previous meeting in 2022 would light up the Hard Rock Stadium when they clash again on June 18.
Madrid have handed Alonso two new players to work with following the arrivals of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Who could make a name for themselves?
Al-Hilal striker Marcos Leonardo is undoubtedly one to watch. Since joining the club from Benfica in September, the 22-year-old Brazilian has been making headlines – and for good reason.
Leonardo has scored an impressive 17 goals in just 21 starts in the SPL. That’s a strike rate of 0.88 goals per game, putting him just ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who averages 0.86.
The Brazilian is lethal in the box. He thrives in tight spaces, often ghosting between defenders to meet crosses with quick, first-time finishes.
Leonardo may not look like much of an aerial threat, but his movement and timing make him a real handful in the air, and most of his goals come within the frame of the goal.
Efficiency may not be the first word people associate with Brazilian forwards, but Leonardo embodies it.
He’s direct, clinical and rarely wasteful in the final third. He’s the kind of striker who makes defenders uncomfortable and goalkeepers sweat.
Some of the biggest stars in the world will be participating in the tournament, but Leonardo is one to watch for people buying Club World Cup tickets from Seatsnet.com.
Leonardo is still recovering from a torn adductor muscle but is expected to return in June. If he can get himself back to full fitness in time, he could pick up where he left off.
Al-Hilal are hoping for a strong campaign
Al-Hilal finished second in the SPL last season, but they’re expected to bring the heat to this tournament.
The Riyadh giants still carry the confidence of champions, having clinched a record-extending 19th league title just a year ago.
That 2023/24 season was historic as Al-Hilal went unbeaten across the entire league campaign, racking up 31 wins and three draws.
Their incredible run saw them set a new world record with a jaw-dropping 28 straight wins across all competitions by March 2024. They eventually pushed that total to 34 wins before finally being halted.
Al-Hilal enjoyed a period of dominance under Jorge Jesus’ leadership and will hope Simeone Inzaghi has a similar impact after arriving from Inter Milan.
Jesus’ departure came after Al-Hilal lost their grip on the league title to Al-Ittihad and were edged out by Al-Ahli in the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals.
If they take the tournament as seriously as they should, Al-Hilal could surprise a few sides with the quality they have throughout the spine of the team.
