Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal starting lineups, team news, score prediction: Alexander-Arnold debuts, Mbappe out

What a difference a year makes.

This time in 2024, Xabi Alonso had led Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible season domestically, claiming Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal glory and putting the "Neverkusen" tag to bed for good.

Over in Milan, Simone Inzaghi led Inter to a dominant Scudetto triumph, having helmed their run to the UEFA Champions League final in 2023.

Inzaghi and the Nerazzurri repeated that journey this term, only to suffer a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of a brilliant Paris Saint-Germain. 

It proved to be his final game in charge of Inter before taking up the reins at Al Hilal for their FIFA Club World Cup campaign. In the opposition dugout for the Group H meeting in Miami is new Real Madrid head coach Alonso.

MORE: The entire 2025 Club World Cup match schedule & results

Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal starting lineups, team news

A report by Cadena Ser suggested new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen were each set to start, and this proved to be accurate. This is, in part, a move of necessity, given that Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are all sidelined for this tournament opener.

Although that quartet are expected to play some part in the group stages, David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga are set to be out a little longer.

In attack, 21-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia plays as the No. 9, flanked by Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. Kylian Mbappe misses out, apparently due to illness.

Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, F. Garcia — Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham — Rodrygo, G. Garcia, Vinicius Jr.

Injured:  Alaba (knee), Camavinga (adductor), Endrick (hamstring), Dani Carvajal (knee), Militao (knee), Mendy (thigh), Rudiger (knee), Mbappe (illness)
Suspended: None

MORE: Full list of players, squads for all 32 Club World Cup participants

Full Real Madrid squad

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Fran Gonzalez, Andriy Lunin, Sergio Mestre.

Defenders: Diego Aguado, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Dani Carvajal, Jesus Fortea, Fran Garcia, Dean Huijsen, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Jacobo Ramon, Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, Yusi.

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Chema, Arda Guler, Mario Martin, Luka Modric, Victor Munoz, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde.

Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Endrick, Gonzalo Garcia, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.

Joao Cancelo should be ideally suited to Inzaghi's preference for using wingbacks. The former Juventus, Manchester City and Barcelona player had been battling to recover from a hamstring problem but is fit to start.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic came of age playing under Inzaghi at Lazio and is likely to be a key part of his boss' plans once again alongside Joao Neves in central midfield.

Aleksandar Mitrovic and Marcos Leonardo scored 36 Saudi Pro League goals between them last season, but the former misses out due to an injury.

Al Hilal starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Bono (GK) — Cancelo, Tambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi — Neves, N. Al Dawsari — Malcom, Milinkovic-Savic, S. Al Dawsari — Marcos Leonardo

Injured: Mitrovic (undisc.)
Suspended: None.

Full Al Hilal squad

Goalkeepers: Ahmad Aburasyin, Abdulelah Alghamdi, Mohammed Alyami, Yassine Bounou.

Defenders: Ali Albulayhi, Khalifah Aldawsari, Rayan Alghamdi, Moteb Alhardbi, Saad Almuthary, Yasser Alshahrani, Hassan Altambakti, Hamad Alyami, Saleh Barnawi, Saud Harun, Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly.

Midfielders: Nasser Aldawsari, Salem Aldawsari, Khalid Alghannam, Musab Aljuwayr, Abduelelah Almalki, Mohammed Alqahtani, Abdulaziz Hadhood, Kaio, Mohamed Kanno, Renan Lodi, Malcom, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Mohammed Muhaysh, Ruben Neves.

Forwards: Abdullah Alhamddan, Turki Alghumayl, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Marcos Leonardo.

Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal score prediction

Two teams grappling with the new demands from two detail-oriented coaches are unlikely to hit top gear in this one.

As such, expect the quality differential to tell, with Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham ready to fire Madrid to three points in their latest quest for a global trophy.

Prediction: Al Hilal 1-3 Real Madrid

Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal live stream, TV channel

All matches across the entirety of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be streamed for free on DAZN across the globe. In addition, some matches may be televised in certain regions as per DAZN's deals with local networks and services.

Here's how to watch this 2025 Club World Cup group stage match across selected areas of the world's major regions: