Al-Hilal earn respect for Saudi Pro League at world stage by holding mighty Real

Al-Hilal holding heavyweights Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in the FIFA Club World Cup, calls for the Saudi Pro League to be taken more seriously, especially in Europe.

Yassine Bounou saved a last-gasp penalty from Federico Valverde to deny Xabi Alonso victory on his first match as Real manager at a packed Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe's absence due to fever was a massive miss for Real. But the Spanish giants fielded a strong XI regardless, with fresh signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen earning their first starts.

Youngster Gonzalo Garcia, who stepped in for Mbappe, put Real ahead in the 34th minute. But Al-Hilal drew level in the 41st minute from a Ruben Neves penalty.

Simeone Inzaghi, also on his debut as Al-Hilal manager, said what the result meant to his side. "It was a very good game. The lads played with great organisation and personality against what I consider one of the three strongest teams in the world. I couldn't have asked for more," Inzaghi said.

The Italian recently led Inter Milan to the Champions League final but lost heavily to PSG. However, Inzaghi has already taken a liking to his new side. "People are starting to realise the level is rising. I've found a club here with organisation, ambition and players hungry to compete. The game was tough with the heat and humidity, but the players handled it superbly."

The Saudi Pro League has attracted some of the best players in the world, mainly since 2023, when the oil-rich nation's Public Investment Fund invested heavily in the championship.

Al-Nassr's signing of Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo in 2023 turned Saudi Arabia into a dream destination for players, not just in their mid-30s but even some of the finest young talents. Brazilian winger Angelo (20), Colombian striker Jhon Duran (21) and French-Mali attacker Moussa Diaby (25) are some of the impressive young stars who compete in the Saudi Pro League.

Then there are the popular ones such as Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Neves, N'Golo Kante, Franck Kessie, Georgino Wijnaldum, Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Bounou to name a few.

Al-Hilal are the only representative of Saudi Arabia in the revamped 32-team event held in the United States. Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg and Mexico's Pachuca are the other teams in Group H, besides Real and Al-Hilal. It is hard to say how far the Saudis will get in the Club World Cup, but it cannot be treated as a surprise if they make it to the knockouts.