Spanish Press Reacts: Al Ahly Dominate, But Inter Miami Hold On

Spanish media outlets closely followed the goalless draw between Egypt’s Al Ahly and Inter Miami in the opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, played at Hard Rock Stadium early Sunday.

Marca headlined: “Ostari Saves Inter Miami Against Al Ahly”, noting that while the game lacked goals, it was rich in intensity and drama. The Spanish paper praised Al Ahly’s strong first half, pointing out Trezeguet’s missed penalty and Wisam Abu Ali’s disallowed goal for offside.

Marca highlighted goalkeeper Ostari’s man-of-the-match performance, making 8 crucial saves — 5 of them inside the box, including a vital stop from the spot.

The paper also credited Al Ahly’s Mohamed El Shenawy, who denied multiple efforts from Lionel Messi and his teammates.

AS Praises Messi Despite Stalemate

Meanwhile, AS praised Messi’s brilliant touches, saying he stood out in a lacklustre Inter Miami side. The newspaper stressed that the Argentine “still amazes the world,” even if his efforts weren’t enough to lead the team to victory.

New Format, Bigger Stakes

The 2025 edition features a 32-team format, mirroring the recent FIFA World Cup. Clubs are split into eight groups of four, with the top two advancing to a knockout Round of 16.

Al Ahly, who opened with this high-profile clash, are set to face Palmeiras (June 19) and Porto (June 23) in the coming group matches.

The grand final will be held on July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.