Real Madrid vs Al Hilal predictions: Real to rule in free-scoring clash
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- Real Madrid have conceded in 14 of their last 19 matches
- Al Hilal have seen both teams score in four of their last six matches
- Recommended bet: Real Madrid to win & both teams to score
Real Madrid are the most successful team in Club World Cup history, having lifted the trophy on five occasions, and they will be expecting to start strongly in Group H when they lock horns with Saudi big-spenders Al Hilal at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The Spanish heavyweights get set for a new endeavour under the guidance of former player Xabi Alonso, who has swapped the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen for La Liga, and this should be the perfect starting point for him.
These two met in the Club World Cup final in 2023, albeit in its shorter format, and Real triumphed in a thrilling 5-3 victory, with Vinicius Junior twice on target in that contest.
Al Hilal are also under new management, with Simone Inzaghi appointed on the back of guiding Inter to their second Champions League final in three seasons, and he inherits a strong squad featuring former Premier League stars Kalidou Koulibaly, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Team news
Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga and Ferland Mendy have all travelled to the USA but they have injury concerns and are unlikely to feature in this opener.
Antonio Rudiger and Endrick are set to miss out, but summer arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen will be hoping to play their part.
Inzaghi will likely implement his favoured 3-5-2 formation with new club Al Hilal but former Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo is a fitness concern.
The stats
Real Madrid beat Al-Hilal 5-3 in the 2022 Club World Cup final, making them the most successful team in the competition's history with five wins.
Real Madrid won five of their last eight league games to nil, but they have conceded in 14 of their final 19 matches in all competitions.
Real have won six of their last eight matches, losing twice only to Barcelona in that period.
Al Hilal have seen both teams score in four of their last six matches and seven of their last nine outings have featured three or more goals.
Mitrovic is one of Al-Hilal's chief attacking threats after scoring 28 goals in 36 competitive appearances in the 2024-25 campaign.
Prediction
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Real Madrid showed their attacking talents with a 5-3 win over Al Hilal in the Club World Cup final in 2023 and this could be another captivating encounter.
With Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius and Jude Bellingham carrying the baton in Real's final third, the La Liga giants should have too much for their lower-ranked opponents.
However, being so top heavy can often leave them vulnerable at the back and they have conceded in 14 of their last 19 matches.
Al Hilal have a potent forward of their own in Mitrovic, who scored 28 goals in 36 appearances this season, while their creative ranks are bolstered by his Serbian teammate Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, captain Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom
Seven of Al Hilal's last nine matches have featured three or more goals and, like Alonso at Real, Inzaghi will be keen to make an early impression in the Saudi side's dugout.
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