The Real Madrid CF vs Al-Hilal lineups during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup brought a lot of excitement to football fans and both teams sporting stellar lineups. The match featured the best stars both from Real Madrid and Al-Hilal and showcased tactics and strategies which influenced the final result. In this article we look at all of Real Madrid CF vs Al-Hilal lineups examine their teams’ formations, and look at the way each team approached the game.
Real Madrid CF vs Al-Hilal Lineups: Full Breakdown
Real Madrid Starting XI (4-3-3 Formation)
Real Madrid, managed by Carlo Ancelotti began the game using the 4-3-2 formation with the aim of balancing between defense and attack.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Thibaut Courtois |
| Right-back | Trent Alexander-Arnold |
| Center-back | Raul Asencio |
| Center-back | Dean Huijsen |
| Left-back | Fran Garcia |
| Central Midfield | Aurelien Tchouameni |
| Central Midfield | Jude Bellingham |
| Central Midfield | Federico Valverde |
| Right Wing | Rodrygo |
| Left Wing | Vinicius Junior |
| Striker | Gonzalo Garcia |
Tactical Breakdown:
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defense: Trent Alexander-Arnold was a creative right-back, whereas Fran Garcia played defensive duties while providing attacking support. Raul Asencio and Dean Huijsen formed a solid central defense team.
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Midfield The midfield trio comprising Tchouameni, Bellingham, and Valverde maintained the pace while Bellingham offering a unique perspective and Tchouameni providing stability defensively.
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Attack Attack Rodrygo as well as Vinicius Jr providing width and speed Gonzalo Garca led his team in absence of Kylian Mbappe. The duo provided an ideal central point of Real Madrid’s attacking.
Al-Hilal Starting XI (3-5-2 Formation)
Al-Hilal Under the supervision under the direction of Simone Inzaghi has opted for the three-five formation with a focus on defensive strength while striving to capitalize on opportunities to counterattack.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Yassine Bounou |
| Right Center-back | Joao Cancelo |
| Center-back | Kalidou Koulibaly |
| Left Center-back | Hassan Al-Tambakti |
| Right Wing-back | Renan Lodi |
| Central Midfield | Ruben Neves |
| Central Midfield | Sergej Milinkovic-Savic |
| Central Midfield | Salem Al-Dawsari (C) |
| Left Wing-back | Nasser Al-Dawsari |
| Forward | Malcom |
| Forward | Marcos Leonardo |
Tactical Breakdown:
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Defense The Al-Hilal’s 3-5 formation was designed to provide defense resilient. Koulibaly along with Al-Tambakti gave the central defensive strength as did Joao Cancelo provided attacking thrust from the right-center back.
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midfield Neves and Milinkovic-Savic were charged with directing the midfield as well as linking the game and coordinating the play, and Salem Al-Dawsari, the captain, coordinated attacks.
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The attack Malcom And Marcos Leonardo formed a dynamic forward pair that utilized their speed and skills to take advantage of Real Madrid’s defensive holes.
Key Tactical Insights From Real Madrid CF vs Al-Hilal Lineups
Real Madrid’s Tactical Approach:
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Wide Full-Back and Play: Real Madrid relied on the attacking talents by Alexander-Arnold and Fran Garcia to extend their Al-Hilal defense. Rodrygo as well as Vinicius Junior Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo provided speed on the flanks, which allowed for the width.
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Midfield Control Through the trio of Tchouameni, Bellingham along with Valverde, Real Madrid retained their control of midfield. Bellingham’s role in the advanced position allowed for connecting with forwards, and Valverde’s box-to-box energy helped keep Al-Hilal’s midfield in check.
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High-Pressing: Real Madrid pressed high, with the aim of winning possession quickly and then smother Al-Hilal’s build-up in the advanced areas.
Al-Hilal’s Tactical Approach:
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solid Defense and Counter-Attacks Al-Hilal’s 3-5-2 formation offered defensive security and included Koulibaly along with Al-Tambakti as the central players of their formation. The wingbacks, Lodi and Cancelo were able to support both attacking and defense.
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Midfield Creativity Neves and Milinkovic-Savic controlled the pace of the game and Al-Dawsari being the creative energy in midfield. This enabled Al-Hilal to swiftly transition from attack to defense.
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Utilize Spaces in wide Areas: The forwards, Malcom and Marcos Leonardo, took advantage of the wide spaces left behind by Real Madrid’s fullbacks, aiming to get to the back of defense.
Match Summary and Key Events
The match ended with the form of a 1–1 draw the two teams having moments of excellence.
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34′ – Gonzalo Garcia scored for Real Madrid, capitalizing on the speed of a counter-attack.
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41′ – Ruben Neves scored a goal to Al-Hilal on the spot following an offside inside the box.
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90+2′ – Federico Valverde had a chance to win the game with the penalty on behalf of Real Madrid, but it was saved by Yassine Bounou who secured a spirited game for Al-Hilal.
Conclusion
The Real Madrid CF vs Al-Hilal lineups were a reflection of the tactical struggle between teams that are built around offensive and defensive play (Real Madrid) and one that is focused on counter-attacking and defensive strength (Al-Hilal). The two teams both had moments however, in spite of real Madrid’s dominance in possession, Al-Hilal’s disciplined defense and adroit counter-attacks kept their players on the field.
This game not only highlighted the individual excellence of players, but also showed how tactical set-ups can impact the outcome of high stakes games.
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