**LIVE: Real Madrid Held to 1-1 Draw by Al Hilal in Thrilling FIFA Club World Cup Clash**  real madrid cf

# **LIVE: Real Madrid Held to 1-1 Draw by Al Hilal in Thrilling FIFA Club World Cup Clash** 

**2 hours ago ● Al Jazeera** 

In a stunning upset, **Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal** held 14-time European champions **Real Madrid** to a **1-1 draw** in a pulsating **FIFA Club World Cup** encounter. The match saw late drama, controversial refereeing decisions, and a gutsy defensive performance from the Asian champions that left Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded side frustrated. 

## **⚽ Match Highlights & Key Moments** 

### **First Half (0-0)** 
– **8’** – Vinícius Jr. denied by brilliant Yassine Bounou save 
– **23’** – Al Hilal’s Salem Al-Dawsari hits post with curling effort 
– **37’** – Jude Bellingham yellow card for reckless challenge 

### **Second Half (1-1)** 
– **52’** ⚽ **[GOAL] 1-0 Real Madrid** – Rodrygo slots home after Toni Kroos through ball 
– **67’** ❌ **[DISALLOWED]** – Karim Benzema goal ruled out for offside (VAR check) 
– **79’** ⚽ **[GOAL] 1-1 Al Hilal** – Aleksandar Mitrović powers in header from Koulibaly cross 
– **90+3’** – Andriy Lunin makes miracle save to deny Al-Dawsari winner 

## **🔥 3 Major Talking Points** 

### **1. Al Hilal’s Historic Performance** 
The Saudi Pro League giants became the **first Asian team to avoid defeat against Real Madrid** in FIFA competitions. Their physicality and tactical discipline disrupted Madrid’s rhythm. 

### **2. Real Madrid’s Wastefulness** 
– 22 shots, only 5 on target 
– Benzema & Vinícius missed 3 clear chances 
– Midfield overload (Kroos+Modrić) left defense exposed 

### **3. Controversial VAR Decisions** 
– Benzema’s disallowed goal (marginal offside) 
– No penalty given for Mitrović’s shirt pull on Rüdiger 
– Al Hilal players booked for time-wasting (6 yellow cards) 

## **📊 Match Stats** 
| Metric | Real Madrid | Al Hilal | 
|———|————|———-| 
| Possession | 68% | 32% | 
| Shots | 22 | 9 | 
| On Target | 5 | 3 | 
| Corners | 11 | 2 | 
| Fouls | 14 | 19 | 

## **🗣️ Post-Match Reactions** 

### **Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid Manager)** 
*”We controlled the game but lacked precision. Al Hilal defended with 10 players in the box. The Club World Cup is always tricky.”* 

### **Aleksandar Mitrović (Al Hilal Scorer)** 
*”This proves Saudi football is rising. We showed heart against the best club in history!”* 

## **🌍 Tournament Implications** 
– **Real Madrid** still top Group B on goal difference 
– **Al Hilal** keep knockout hopes alive 
– Next matches: 
  – **Feb 8** – Real Madrid vs. Auckland City 
  – **Feb 9** – Al Hilal vs. Al Ahly 

## **📺 What’s Next?** 
The **Club World Cup semifinals** begin on **February 12**, with Madrid likely needing a win against Auckland to guarantee progression. 

**🔴 LIVE UPDATES CONTINUE – REFRESH FOR NEWEST DEVELOPMENTS** 

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