What a difference a year makes.
This time in 2024, Xabi Alonso had led Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible season domestically, claiming Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal glory and putting the “Neverkusen” tag to bed for good.
Over in Milan, Simone Inzaghi led Inter to a dominant Scudetto triumph, having helmed their run to the Champions League final in 2023.
Inzaghi and the Nerazzurri repeated that journey this term, only to suffer a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of a brilliant Paris Saint-Germain.
It proved to be his final game in charge of Inter before taking up the reins at Al Hilal for their FIFA Club World Cup campaign. In the opposition dugout for the Group H meeting in Miami is new Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso.
MORE: The entire 2025 Club World Cup match schedule & results
Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal predicted lineups, team news
A report by Cadena Ser suggested new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen are each set to start. This is, in part, a move of necessity, given that Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are all likely to be sidelined for this tournament opener.
Although that quartet are expected to play some part in the group stages, David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga are set to be out a little longer.
In attack, Arda Guler has been tipped to start in support of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, a selection that would only further speculation that Rodrygo’s future might lie away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
Alonso will probably steer clear of his signature 3-4-3 from Leverkusen for the time being, if not on a permanent basis, given the unique demands and expectations attached to the Madrid job.
Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, Garcia — Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham— Guler, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Injured: Alaba (knee), Camavinga (adductor), Endrick (hamstring), Dani Carvajal (knee), Militao (knee), Mendy (thigh), Rudiger (knee).
Suspended: None.
MORE: Full list of players, squads for all 32 Club World Cup participants
Full Real Madrid squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Fran Gonzalez, Andriy Lunin, Sergio Mestre.
Defenders: Diego Aguado, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Dani Carvajal, Jesus Fortea, Fran Garcia, Dean Huijsen, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Jacobo Ramon, Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, Yusi.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Chema, Arda Guler, Mario Martin, Luka Modric, Victor Munoz, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde.
Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Endrick, Gonzalo Garcia, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.
Joao Cancelo should be ideally suited to Inzaghi’s preference for using wingbacks, although the former Juventus, Manchester City and Barcelona player is battling to recover from a hamstring problem.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic came of age playing under Simeone at Lazio and is likely to be a key part of his boss’ plans once again alongside Joao Neves in central midfield.
Aleksandar Mitrovic and Marcos Leonardo scored 36 Saudi Pro League goals between them last season and will carry the threat to Madrid. Mitrovic missed time through the early portion of 2025 with an injury, but returned to pick up where he left off, scoring seven goals across the team’s final eight games of the campaign.
Al Hilal predicted lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): Bono (GK) — K. Aldawsari, Koulibaly, Albulayhi — Cancelo, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Lodi — Malcom, Marcos Leonardo —Mitrovic
Injured: Cancelo (hamstring, doubt).
Suspended: None.
Full Al Hilal squad
Goalkeepers: Ahmad Aburasyin, Abdulelah Alghamdi, Mohammed Alyami, Yassine Bounou.
Defenders: Ali Albulayhi, Khalifah Aldawsari, Rayan Alghamdi, Moteb Alhardbi, Saad Almuthary, Yasser Alshahrani, Hassan Altambakti, Hamad Alyami, Saleh Barnawi, Saud Harun, Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly.
Midfielders: Nasser Aldawsari, Salem Aldawsari, Khalid Alghannam, Musab Aljuwayr, Abduelelah Almalki, Mohammed Alqahtani, Abdulaziz Hadhood, Kaio, Mohamed Kanno, Renan Lodi, Malcom, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Mohammed Muhaysh, Ruben Neves.
Forwards: Abdullah Alhamddan, Turki Alghumayl, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Marcos Leonardo.
Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal score prediction
Two teams grappling with the new demands from two detail-oriented coaches are unlikely to hit top gear in this one.
As such, expect the quality differential to tell, with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham ready to fire Madrid to three points in their latest quest for a global trophy.
Prediction: Al Hilal 1-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal live stream, TV channel
All matches across the entirety of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be streamed for free on DAZN across the globe. In addition, some matches may be televised in certain regions as per DAZN’s deals with local networks and services.
Here’s how to watch this 2025 Club World Cup group stage match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Wed, Jun. 18 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | TNT USA, truTV, TUDN, UniMas | DAZN, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, Watch TNT, TUDN App |
| Canada | Wed, Jun. 18 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | — | DAZN |
| UK | Wed, Jun. 18 | 8 p.m. BST | Channel 5 | DAZN |
| Australia | Thu, Jun. 19 | 6 a.m. AEST | — | DAZN, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now |
| India | Thu, Jun. 19 | 1:30 a.m. IST | — | DAZN, tabii |
