Real Madrid and Al Hilal face off in their opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday night, just two years after meeting in the final of the same tournament in their only ever previous competitive meeting, where Real won an entertaining encounter 5-3. Both teams now have new managers in the dugout, with Xabi Alonso taking charge of Real and Simone Inzaghi at Al Hilal.
Contents
- 1 Real Madrid vs Al Hilal prediction: Goals galore again?
- 2 Betting offer – Win up to £40 in bonus bets
- 3 Most recent H2Hs: Eight-goal thriller in only previous meeting
- 4 Real Madrid preview: Two debutants in defence?
- 5 Al Hilal preview: Three absentees for Inzaghi
- 6 Player to watch: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Real Madrid vs Al Hilal prediction: Goals galore again?
Key stats
- Real Madrid have won three in a row in all competitions.
- Al Hilal have scored a total of 30 goals across their last 10 games across all competitions, averaging three per match.
- The previous H2H produced eight goals in total.
Correct score prediction: Real Madrid 4-1 Al Hilal
We should expect plenty of goals again when these teams meet, but Real should have too much class for Al Hilal given the superior quality of La Liga compared to the Saudi Pro League. Inzaghi's team do possess a lot of of firepower though that could still hurt Real, and they have been very free-scoring of late.
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Pre-game odds and win probability: Real reasonably big favourites with bookmakers
- HOME: 2/7 (1.29) – 77.8%
- DRAW: 5/1 (6.00) – 16.7%
- AWAY: 15/2 (8.50) – 11.8%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
As shown by the implied probabilities, Real are heavily favoured by bookmakers to open their CWC account with all three points. A draw is the next fancied result, with Al Hilal given just an 11.8% chance of victory themselves.
Also, feel free to check out our Football Betting Tips Today page.
Most recent H2Hs: Eight-goal thriller in only previous meeting
As mentioned, these two teams have only met once before, incidentally in this competition in 2023. That was in the final, where Real triumphed as 5-3 winners.
FIFA Club World Cup 11/02/23
Real Madrid
Al Hilal Riyadh
Real Madrid preview: Two debutants in defence?
Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen could make their debuts in defence having signed from Premier League sides Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively. However, Real could be without Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Endrick, Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal through injury.
Predicted lineup: Courtois (GK), Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Fernandez, Bellingham, Valverde, Guler, Rodrygo, Mbappe & Vinicius
Spain La Liga 11/05/25
L
Barcelona
4
Real Madrid
3
Spain La Liga 04/05/25
W
Celta Vigo
2
Real Madrid
3
Spain Copa del Rey 26/04/25
L
Barcelona
3
Real Madrid
2
Spain La Liga 23/04/25
W
Getafe
0
Real Madrid
1
Spain La Liga 20/04/25
W
Athletic Bilbao
0
Real Madrid
1
Al Hilal preview: Three absentees for Inzaghi
Inzaghi will be without Kaio Cesar, Hamad Al-Yami and Moteb Al-Harbi through injury. Otherwise, Al Hilal have a full squad to choose from.
Predicted lineup: Bono (GK), Cancelo, Al-Bulayhi, Koulibaly, Lodi, Neves, Kanno, Milenkovic-Savic, Al-Dawsari, Mitrovic & Malcom
Saudi Arabia Pro League 12/05/25
W
Al Orubah
0
Al Hilal Riyadh
4
Saudi Arabia Pro League 07/05/25
W
Al Raed
3
Al Hilal Riyadh
5
AFC Champions League Elite 29/04/25
L
Al Ahli Jeddah
3
Al Hilal Riyadh
1
AFC Champions League Elite 25/04/25
W
Gwangju FC
0
Al Hilal Riyadh
7
Saudi Arabia Pro League 21/04/25
D
Al Shabab Riyadh
2
Al Hilal Riyadh
2
Player to watch: Trent Alexander-Arnold
A lot of eyes will be on Trent Alexander-Arnold, given that he left Liverpool in rather controversial circumstances. Indeed, he ran down his contract at his boyhood club in order to pursue a dream move to Real Madrid, not long after the Reds won the Premier League title.
The right-back boasts a unique talent in terms of his passing range, and should thrive in Xabi Alonso's system. Nonetheless, Alexander-Arnold's ability to strike the ball and find his teammates from all kinds of angles on the pitch means that he will surely be a marked man by Al Hilal.