Real Madrid v Al-Hilal: Prediction, where to watch, free tips and bet builder
Xabi Alonso speaks to reporters during his presentation as Real Madrid's new coach
A new era for Real Madrid gets underway in Mami as Los Blancos kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Al-Hilal this Wednesday night (2000 BST).
New manager Xabi Alonso will be chasing early success as his Real Madrid side head to the United States as one of the tournament favourites.
No club has won more Club World Cup titles than Los Blancos who have already triumphed at this event five times – including the 2022 edition which saw them beat Al-Hilal in the final.
The Spanish outfit have already proved that they are taking this tournament seriously, paying extra money to complete Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move from Liverpool in time for the trip to America.
It was defensive issues that arguably cost Real Madrid the La Liga title last season and Alonso will be hoping to resolve those problems before the start of the new domestic campaign.
Al-Hilal also arrive for the tournament with a new manager at the helm. After losing the Serie A title race and the Champions League final with Inter Milan, Simone Inzaghi decided to follow the money and test himself with the Saudi club.
Despite his successes in the managerial game, Inzaghi does not have prior Club World Cup experience, meaning this edition of the tournament will mark his debut.
Inzaghi faces a tough challenge this Wednesday night considering he is winless in two games against Real Madrid and his one clash with Xabi Alonso.
Unlike their manager, Al-Hilal as a club know this event like the back of their hand, making three previous appearances – more than any other Saudi club.
Their 5-3 defeat to Real Madrid in the 2022 final was their only ever fixture against Spanish opposition, while a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the 2021 edition is their only other test against another European club.
Considering the wealth of talent in the Al-Hilal squad, which includes the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Cancelo and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, the Saudi outfit will certainly bring the fight to Los Blancos.
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Real Madrid are yet become familiar with Alonso’s strategy, tactics and management style. What’s more, the new signings are yet to settle in at the club, meaning the Spaniards might not be at the optimum come Wednesday.
Nevertheless, it’s time to take a closer look at the fixture, picking out some of the best bets along the way.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(All odds are correct at time of article publication)
Real Madrid v Al-Hilal bet builder
Al-Hilal draw no bet – 6/1
Both teams to score – 3/4
Over 3.5 offsides – 11/25
Aleksandar Mitrovic to score anytime – 11/4
Finishing the league season in second was a bitter pill to swallow for Al-Hilal who finished the domestic season with an eight-match unbeaten run.
Four of their last five matches in the league ended with wins, while three of those games saw Al-Hilal score four or more goals.
Should the Saudi side pick things up from where they left off, Real Madrid could have a problem on their hands, especially with their recent defensive jitters.
Bearing all that in mind, we’re backing Al-Hilal in the draw no bet market at a very juicy 6/1.
Considering we are expecting an attacking display from both teams, we are adding both teams to score and over 3.5 offsides to the mix.
Lastly, we are putting our chips on Al-Hilal striker Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring anytime. The Serb is in fine goalscoring form, rattling the net eight times in seven games for club and country.
Where to watch Real Madrid v Al-Hilal
Fans can watch Real Madrid v Al-Hilal live on Channel 5 in the UK, with kick off scheduled for 8pm BST. If you prefer streaming, you can watch it online via channel5.com or DAZN.com, which is offering free streaming for this match.
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