Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the opening matches of the group stage will take place on Wednesday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, where Real Madrid will face Al-Hilal. I'm offering a bet on the outcome of this clash with an attractive odds.
Match preview
When Real Madrid steps onto the international stage, they don't just play — they set the standard. Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos look fresh and tactically versatile: a high pressing line, lightning-quick transitions from defense to attack, and confident ball possession make them favorites in any encounter.
Their 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the last round further underlines the team's impressive form, having won four of their last five matches. The attacking line, in particular, deserves mention: Vinicius and Rodrygo are thriving in Alonso's system, which unleashes their pace and dribbling skills. Real have arrived in the US with one goal — to claim yet another trophy.
Saudi side Al-Hilal may not be favored by the bookmakers, but they certainly shouldn't be underestimated. Simone Inzaghi's team are unbeaten in their last five fixtures and confidently dispatched Al-Qadsiah 2-0 in their most recent outing. The Italian manager has crafted a well-balanced 3-5-2 setup, boasting a solid defense and a sharp focus on counterattacks.
Up front, Al-Hilal rely on the partnership of Gomis and Al-Dawsari, who consistently find gaps in opposing defenses. In their previous encounter with Real, they managed to score three times against the Spanish giants, despite falling 3-5. That experience could prove crucial as they look to challenge a more decorated opponent.
Probable lineups
- Real Madrid: Courtois, Rüdiger, Garcia, Vazquez, Asensio, Tchouameni, Güler, Valverde, Camavinga, Rodrygo, Mbappé
- Al-Hilal: Bono, Al-Shahrani, Koulibaly, Al-Tambakti, Renan Lodi, Neves, Milinković-Savić, Kanno, Malcom, Al-Dawsari, Mitrović
Match facts and head-to-head
- This will be the teams' second head-to-head meeting, with the first ending in a 5-3 win for Real
- Both teams won their most recent matches with a clean 2-0 scoreline
- The "Both teams to score" bet has come through in three of the last five games for both sides
Prediction
This promises to be a spectacle: Real bring the quality, Al-Hilal bring the grit. But the gulf in class and experience is too significant to overlook the Madrid side. Real should claim a confident win, though the Saudis' attack can still snatch a consolation goal. Our pick for the match is "Both teams to score" at odds of 1.80.
