By Andrea Caropreso
Index
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The first matchday of the Club World Cup is now in the books, with expected results as well as a few surprises. Notably, the underwhelming performance of Real Madrid made headlines, as they drew 1-1 with Saudi side Al Hilal, captained by Inzaghi. On the other hand, it was an excellent debut for Juventus Club World Cup against UAE’s Al Ain.
Who’s rising, who’s falling
The top European teams in Group G — Juventus and Manchester City — largely lived up to expectations. The English side comfortably defeated Wydad Casablanca 2-0, thanks to goals from Foden and Doku. However, the North African team left a good impression, especially ahead of their upcoming match against Juventus.
As for the Bianconeri, it was a highly convincing result at Washington’s Audi Field. A clear 5-0 win not only boosts confidence for the rest of the Club World Cup but also lays the groundwork for the next season. The standout players were the most talented: Conceição and Kolo Muani both scored braces, while the ever-reliable Yildiz added his name to a brilliant night.
Things didn’t go as well for the new-look Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso, who seemed tense and perhaps out of fuel after a grueling season. For large stretches, Al Hilal — featuring Cancelo and Milinkovic-Savic — controlled the game with composure. García gave the Blancos hope of taking all 3 points, but Al Hilal kept their cool and earned a penalty in the 41st minute, which Neves converted. Real’s night to forget was sealed when Valverde missed a penalty in the 92nd minute, being denied by Bonou and leaving the match as a draw.
A misstep also came from the new Inter side led by Chivu, who began their Club World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Mexican club Monterrey. The Mexicans took the lead with a trademark header from the ageless Sergio Ramos. Inter equalized through Lautaro after a set-piece, but overall, the team looked far from their best — perhaps still shaken from the 5-0 loss in the Champions League final.
Other results
Special mention must go to the South American clubs. So far, the gap with European sides hasn’t been overwhelming — in fact, the level of play has often been superior, showcasing skills worthy of players dreaming of crossing the ocean to one day play in Europe.
Fluminense, for example, held their own against Borussia Dortmund, earning a 0-0 draw. Meanwhile, River Plate dominated against Japan’s Urawa Reds, winning 3-1. The Japanese club had previously taken part in the old Club World Cup format.
Of course, some might argue that European teams are not in peak condition (as the season is ending), yet the South Americans’ talent, combined with the pride of proving themselves equal, led to them producing the best moments. The only South American team to lose was Pachuca, the Mexican club falling 2-1 to Salzburg overnight.
