5 hours ago
1
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has gone true to form through the first three days, and Real Madrid will hope to continue that trend against Al-Hilal in Miami on Wednesday afternoon.
The Spanish giants are -340 favorites against Al-Hilal, who finished as the runners-up to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League this season.
This will be the first match for Real Madrid under new manager Xabi Alonso, who takes over for Carlo Ancelotti.
Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal prediction
Real Madrid’s 2024-25 season was a disappointment by their lofty standards.
After signing Kylian Mbappe, it was expected that Los Blancos would add plenty of hardware to their mantle. Instead, they finished second in La Liga to Barcelona, lost to Barca in the Copa del Rey Final, and were defeated by Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
For most teams, that’s a fine season. But Real Madrid is not like most teams.
Under Ancelotti, Madrid were passive and happy to counter-attack, but this will not be how Alonso wants his squad to set up.
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid after scoring a goal. REUTERSAlonso wants to press and turn the ball over up high, which is going to be a change of pace for this roster.
There’s enough talent in Real Madrid’s ranks that they can win under any system, but Alonso will want to use this tournament to get on the same page as his players.
Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps
- Check out the best sports betting sites
- Download the best sports betting app
Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal pick
The heavyweights have fared well out of the gates in the FIFA Club World Cup. Chelsea defeated LAFC, Bayern Munich scored 10 against Auckland City, and Paris Saint-Germain took care of Atletico Madrid.
You’d think that points to a victory for Real Madrid on Wednesday, and it’s likely they do win, but the price is a bit lofty considering it is the first game in charge for Alonso.
Al-Hilal has plenty of talent on the roster, so don’t expect this to be a walk in the park for the Spaniards.
Instead, this sets up to be a scrappy affair, with Real Madrid working out the kinks and Al-Hilal focusing on limiting scoring chances as the underdog.
THE PLAY: Under 2.5 goals (+166, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
English (US)