Xabi Alonso started his Real Madrid reign with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal on Wednesday evening.
Los Blancos new manager Xabi Alonso debuted Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, while Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and Malcom picked out the Hilal eleven.
Al Hilal looked to hit the ground running in the opening minutes and saw Sergej Milinkovic Savic come towards the area to get a shot, but Thibaut Courtois palmed.
With both teams under new bosses, Madrid responded to the earlier scare as Raul Asencio charged in from midfield to produce an effort, but it was too close to Yassine Bono.
Madrid hit the front just after the cooling break when a flowing passing move saw Gonzalo Garcia get on the end of a cross from Rodrygo to tap in at the back-post.
The advantage lasted just seven minutes as Hilal levelled through a composed penalty from Neves following a foul in the area by Asencio.
Alonso made a substitution ahead of the second half and saw Turkish international Arda Guler come on in the place of Asencio.
Guler settled immediately and nearly restored Madrid's lead through a powerful effort from the area, but Bono parried and denied Garcia on the follow-up.
Madrid continued to have the better of the chances earlier in the resumption as a smart header by Garcia at the back-post worked Bono to a teasing save.
The Saudi giants got a golden chance in the closing minutes when Salem Aldawsari pressed from the front and cut inside to tee-up Marcos Leonardo, but the forward fired over.
Los Blancos received a penalty following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review in the dying minutes as Fran Garcia committed a foul, but Federico Valverde stepped up and failed to beat Bono as the encounter ended all square.
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
