5 things we learned from Al-Hilal’s 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at FIFA Club World Cup

WASHINGTON D.C.: Nineteen-time Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal held European giants Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup in Miami on Wednesday night as Ruben Neves’ penalty cancelled out Fran Garcia’s opener.

Impressively dominant for much of the first half, Hilal were in the end grateful to goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who saved an added time penalty from Federico Valverde to secure a point.

Bono puts in star turn inside the Hard Rock

With the name “BONO” on his back, Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was destined to put in a star turn inside the Hard Rock Stadium.

Not to be confused with the U2 singer, Bounou was relatively quiet in the first-half as Hilal peppered the goal of his opposite number, Thibaut Courtois, with 11 shots.

Blameless for Fran Garcia’s first-half goal, which ricocheted off the Madrid player’s own planted foot to bobble up and over the diving Moroccan, Bounou was called into action more regularly in the second half.

Vini Jr found more space on the left, substitute Arda Guler danced dangerously around midfield, and Gonzalo Garcia forced a pair of smart saves.

Yet it was in injury-time that Bounou took center stage. The 34-year-old, who came close to joining Madrid before making the move to Hilal from Sevilla in August 2023, produced a rock star penalty save fitting of the setting.

This ensured the 2021 AFC Asian champions held on to what could be a crucial point in their quest to progress through Group H. 

Al-Dawsari within millimeters of reproducing big stage heroics

Al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari was already the talk of the Spanish-speaking media before the match kicked off in Miami as they seemed to realize who the No. 29 was.

The forward had