Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Predicted Lineups and Key Insights
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Predicted Lineups
A new-look Real Madrid steps onto the Hard Rock Stadium turf in Miami for their Club World Cup opener against Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal. It is the competitive debut of Xabi Alonso’s tenure and the first glimpse of marquee arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen in a tournament setting. Meanwhile, Simone Inzaghi’s Al-Hilal arrive packed with European pedigree and eager to spring an upset in Group H’s headline fixture.
Real Madrid’s Predicted XI for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Heading into the Club World Cup 2025, Alonso is expected to stay close to the 4-3-3 structure he refined at Leverkusen,Prediction site but with aggressive full-backs providing width. His projected XI for the tournament opener is:
Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Fran García; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappé, Vinícius Jr.
Alexander-Arnold’s early integration solves last season’s right-back issues, while 20-year-old Huijsen partners Antonio Rüdiger to ease the workload on Éder Militão, who is still managing his long-term knee recovery.
Key Players to Watch for Real Madrid in Their Opening Match
- Kylian Mbappé – fresh from a brief hospital scare with gastro-enteritis, the Frenchman is cleared to play and will spearhead the attack from the left half-space, constantly darting inside to combine with Vinícius.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold – the £8 m switch from Liverpool gives Madrid a set-piece specialist and an extra play-maker in open play. Expect frequent under-laps to overload central midfield triangles.
- Jude Bellingham – Alonso has handed him the free-roaming ‘number 8½’ brief, linking midfield to attack and counter-pressing high when possession is lost.
Al-Hilal’s Predicted Lineup: Will They Pose a Serious Threat to Madrid?
Inzaghi’s preferred 3-5-2 morphs into a back five without the ball. A projected XI is:
Bounou; Tambakti, Koulibaly, Al-Bulayhi; Cancelo, Neves, Milinković-Savić, Kanno, Renan Lodi; Malcolm, Mitrović.
Inzaghi’s Betwinner alternative link wing-backs—Cancelo on the right and Lodi on the left—will test Madrid’s wide defenders, while Neves orchestrates deep build-up and Milinković-Savić offers late runs into the box.
The Impact of European Stars in Al-Hilal’s Squad
Al-Hilal’s Saudi core is now complemented by six European regulars who raise the ceiling: Cancelo’s line-breaking passes, Koulibaly’s aerial dominance, Neves’ metronomic tempo, and Mitrović’s penalty-box instincts give Inzaghi a side capable of punishing Madrid in transition. Their presence also offers invaluable leadership to younger Saudi internationals such as Salem Al-Dawsari and Hassan Al-Tambakti, smoothing the adaptation to Inzaghi’s hybrid Italian-Saudi style.
Xabi Alonso’s Tactical Shift: What to Expect from Real Madrid in 2025
Alonso has retained Carlo Ancelotti’s 4-3-3 skeleton but injected greater positional play principles: full-backs invert, wingers hold width, and Bellingham plus Valverde rotate into the half-spaces to create overloads. In possession, Madrid build 3-2-5 with Alexander-Arnold stepping into midfield alongside Tchouaméni, freeing Bellingham to join a fluid front five. Out of possession, Alonso demands a higher defensive line and a Bayer-style counter-press that seeks immediate regains within five seconds of a turnover. Early results in preseason suggest the squad has embraced the philosophy, recording a 68 % average possession and conceding just 0.6 xG per 90 minutes.
New Signings in Real Madrid: The Debut of Alexander-Arnold and Huijsen
- Trent Alexander-Arnold – Signed for €10 m before his Liverpool deal expired, the 26-year-old brings elite chance creation (0.28 expected assists per 90 in 2024-25) and switches of play that fit Alonso’s wide overload patterns.
- Dean Huijsen – The Spain international cost £50 m from Bournemouth and is seen as the heir to Rüdiger. Standing 1.95 m with an 87 % pass-completion rate, Huijsen offers both aerial dominance and the calm progression Alonso wants.
Courtois has already taken both newcomers under his wing, underscoring the tight dressing-room culture Madrid believe will be a competitive edge in the U.S. summer heat.
The Road Ahead for Real Madrid: Challenges and Expectations in the Club World Cup
Madrid share Group H with Al-Hilal, Pachuca and Adelaide United. Finish top and they avoid Bayern Munich until at least the semi-finals; stumble and the path becomes treacherous. A potential quarter-final with MLS champions Inter Miami looms if Lionel Messi’s side qualify from Group C.Online Influence Alonso’s men therefore target nine points and healthy rotation to keep legs fresh in the Florida humidity.
How Will Real Madrid Adjust to Alonso’s Philosophy During the Tournament?
The compressed schedule forces rapid learning: expect double sessions on tactical video analysis and targeted minutes management—Bellingham, Mbappé and Vinícius unlikely to exceed 75 minutes in the first two games unless needed. Success will hinge on how swiftly Alexander-Arnold’s inverted role synchronises with Tchouaméni’s single-pivot duties, and whether Huijsen’s distribution can break Al-Hilal’s first press. If those pieces click, Madrid’s blend of youthful dynamism and star power makes them tournament favourites.