Yassine Bounou saved Federico Valverde’s last-minute penalty as four-time Asian Champions League winners Al Hilal clinched a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the Club World Cup.
Los Blancos took a first-half lead against the run of play as Gonzalo Garcia swiped home Rodrygo low’s cross, only for Ruben Neves to equalise minutes later from the spot after Raul Asencio brought down Marcos Leonardo in the box.
A frantic second half culminated in Los Blancos being awarded a 90th minute penalty, after Mohammed Al-Qahtani was deemed to have fouled Garcia, however, Federico Valverde saw his spot-kick dramatically saved by Yassine Bounou.
It was a game of debuts, with both Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso and Al Hilal’s Simone Inzaghi taking charge of their respective sides for the first time. Meanwhile, Los Blancos starting line-up featured new signings Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Both sides were forced to settle for a point in their opening Group H encounter, with Alonso’s men now turning their attention to a game against Mexican outfit Pachuca on Sunday, while Al Hilal prepare to meet RB Salzburg.