Real Madrid vs Al Hilal live score, updates, highlights and lineups as Vinicius Jr and Valverde strike early in CWC final
Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde scored in the first 20 minutes as Real Madrid took charge of the Club World Cup final against Al Hilal.
Karim Benzema returned to the starting XI from injury and played Vinicius home with a nice pass in the 13th minute.
It was 2-0 five minutes later, with Valverde the beneficiary after Al Hilal goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf failed to convert a low cross from Luka Modric.
Madrid are keen to win the Club World Cup for the fifth time but their ambitions were dashed when Mousa Marega scored a 25th-minute goal for the 18-time Saudi champions.
The Sporting News is following the game live with live scores updates and commentary below:
MORE: Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: Club World Cup final kick-off time, TV channel, stream, betting odds
Live score between Real Madrid and Al Hilal
| 1H | 2H | final | |
| RMA | 2 | — | — |
| ALH | 1 | — | — |
Goals:
RMA – Vinicius Junior (Karim Benzema) – 13th minute
RMA – Federico Valverde – 18th minute
ALH – Mousa Marega (Mohammed Kanno) – 25th minute
Real Madrid vs Al Hilal live updates, highlights from the Club World Cup final
33 minutes: Since Marega’s goal, with Kanno in the foreground, Al Hilal’s game has become much prouder. Perhaps Real Madrid won’t have the routine night that seemed to be on the agenda.
25 minutes: TOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!! Mouse Marega!!!
Well well well. Real Madrid were absolutely idle but a poor game got Al Hilal back in the game. Los Blancos were caught high up in the field and Marega stormed through and hammered a shot through Andriy Lunin.
20 minutes: Real Madrid are having fun here. Karim Benzema unleashes a venomous shot from long range and Al-Mayouf makes a sharp save
18 minutes: TOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!! Federico Valverde!!!
Al-Mayouf can’t handle Modric’s low cross, his defense can’t pick up and Valverde whips home. It’s a long way back for the Saudi side now.
14 minutes: Al Hilal are looking for an immediate replay and that’s not far from Luciano Vietto, whose low shot from 25 yards slipped over the corner and just wide of the left post.
13 minutes: TOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!! Vinicius Junior!!!
Madrid have been patient, pushed Al Hilal to the fore with Modric and Vinicius has his second goal of the tournament, charging behind the defense and blasting home Karim Benzema’s cute pass. Al-Mayouf got a boot in, but it wasn’t enough.
4 minutes: Al Hilal is around the corner… and here comes Ramon Diaz’s team on the other end. Mousa Marega makes his presence felt and hits Luciano Vietto, who runs out of the street before the offside flag is raised. Still, this is an early warning of the capabilities of the two frontmen.
3 minutes: Early corner for Madrid as returning Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde combine deep on the right. The Uruguay international’s low cross is messed up at the back.
1st minute: Peeeep! We are on the way.
5 minutes after kick-off: Here are the teams after the obligatory bash through Thunderstruck by AC/DC. A reliable, consistent performer at FIFA events.
20 minutes after kick-off: Madrid’s defense has to deal with an attack from Al-Hilal, who has Champions League pedigree. Luciano Vietto, formerly at Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, among others, shone in the win over Flamengo, while former Porto powerhouse Mousa Marega will lead the line.
30 minutes after kick-off: The return of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is obviously huge for Real Madrid and gives the veteran striker a chance to garnish a previously frustrating season with his latest silverware. A tally of 13 goals in 21 appearances marks a solid return overall in all competitions, but Benzema has had to stand on the touchline four times through injury. These range from the slight punch that ruled him out of Madrid’s last LaLiga game against Real Mallorca to the hamstring injury that ended his World Cup dream with France.
50 minutes after kick-off: And this is the Al Hilal XI. Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has to settle for a spot on the bench.
1 hour after kick-off: Here is the Real Madrid line-up.
1 hour 20 minutes from kick-off: Flamengo have recovered from their shock defeat by Al Hilal in the semi-finals by defeating Al Ahly 4-2 in the third-place play-off.
1 hr 40 mins from kick-off: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti struggled with an injury-plagued squad and secured a place in the final with a relaxed 4-1 win over Al Ahly. Could the 2023 Club World Cup be the last honor Ancelotti will receive during his successful career in European club football? The veteran Italy manager has been linked with becoming Brazil coach at the end of this season but dismissed those rumors at his pre-match press conference. With Barcelona eight points clear at the top of LaLiga, winning this trophy would be a timely boost for the 14-time European champions.
2 hours after kick-off: Hello and welcome to Sporting News’ coverage of the Club World Cup final between Real Madrid and Al Hilal.
Real Madrid vs Al Hilal lineups
Los Blancos had a long injury list ahead of them. Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard And Karim Benzema were among those who missed the semifinals.
Goalkeeper Courtois was absent again, defender Militao is on the bench and Ballon d’Or winner Benzema is back to lead the line against Al-Hilal.
Real Madrid line-up (4-3-3): Lunin (GK) – Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga – Kroos, Tchouameni, Modric – Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr
Saudi Arabia left-back Yasser Al-Shahrani is staying away for Al-Hilal due to a broken jaw he sustained during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Peru’s winger Andre Carrillo was passed fit despite a suspected ligament injury in the semifinals of Al Hilal.
“Flamengo didn’t expect us to change our formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-1-1 with Luciano Vietto as attacking midfielder,” said Diaz.
“Vietto ghosted behind his defensive midfielders, who we found weren’t good at tackles. And he was brilliant, taking both penalties and scoring a great goal for us.”
Former Argentina youth international Vietto joined Al Hilal from Sporting Lisbon in 2020 and has worked for clubs including Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia and Fulham.
The 29-year-old starts behind former Porto striker Mousa Marega while Odion Ighalo has to settle for a place on the bench.
Estimated formation of Al-Hilal (4-4-1-1): Al-Mayouf (GK) – Saud, Al-Bulayhi, Jang, Khalifah – Cuellar, Kanno, Carrillo, Salem – Vietto – Marega
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Real Madrid vs Al Hilal Live stream, tv channel
Here’s how you can follow all the action of this game in some of the most important areas:
| TV channel | stream | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Fox Sports 2 | Fox Sports, Fifa+ |
| Canada | — | FIFA+ |
| United Kingdom | – | FIFA+ |
| Australia | – | SBS, FIFA+ |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports, Sky Sport 3 NZ | SKY Go, beIN Sports Connect, Fifa+ |
| India | – | FIFA+ |
| Hong Kong | – | FIFA+ |
| Malaysia | – | FIFA+ |
| Singapore | – | FIFA+ |
UNITED KINGDOM: Club World Cup matches can be streamed in the UK via Fifa+, where viewers around the world can also watch the action live.
UNITED STATES: Fox Sports will broadcast the final, which will also be available via the platform’s app, website and Spanish-language broadcaster Fox Deportes.
Canada: Canadian fans can tune in to FIFA+.
Australia: SBS and SBS On Demand will broadcast the final for Australian fans.
MORE: Real Madrid v Al Ahly final score, result: Los Blancos secure FIFA Club World Cup final spot