Alexander-Arnold settling in as Real Madrid target Club World Cup glory
With Alonso moving to a back three as soon as he had the personnel available, Alexander-Arnold has benefitted from playing as a right wing-back in their last two matches.
That is where he is set to continue against German outfit Dortmund in New Jersey on Saturday at the MetLife Stadium.
Alexander-Arnold's floated cross for Gonzalo against Juventus was the precise kind of attacking output that led Madrid to bring him in.
"He could have had many more assists already," said Los Blancos goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
"In training, he is horrible to play against. His corner kicks are another level.
"I don't think I have seen a guy like this with such quality. As a goalkeeper it is a nightmare, but it will help make me better."
Madrid skipper Dani Carvajal is back from a long-term injury but may end up being used more as a centre-back than in the wing-back position now that Alexander-Arnold has arrived.
Los Blancos paid as much as 10 million euros ($11.75 million) according to reports to sign the 26-year-old a month before his Liverpool deal expired, but have already made approximately 54 million euros for reaching the Club World Cup quarter-finals.
After struggling a little at right-back against Al Hilal in Madrid's opening 1-1 draw, Alexander-Arnold has steadily improved.
Manchester City's 4-3 defeat by the Saudi Arabian club showed in hindsight the defender's problems were not entirely of his own making.
Repeat with a twist
As well as beating Dortmund in the 2024 Champions League final, Madrid came from two goals behind to thrash them 5-2 this season in the group phase of the same competition. However both teams have changed significantly since then.
They have new coaches, in the newly-appointed Alonso and Dortmund's Niko Kovac, who has done a fine job since arriving in January, helping them secure qualification for next season's Champions League.
Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen's arrivals have shaken up Madrid's defence, while Borussia Dortmund brought in Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland.
However the midfielder's yellow card against Monterrey in the 2-1 last 16 win means he is suspended for the clash against Madrid and will therefore not face his older brother Jude Bellingham.
Madrid's French striker Kylian Mbappe did not score in the rout of Dortmund in October amid a crisis of confidence, but since then has found top form.
After returning from a stomach bug as a substitute against Juventus, Mbappe will be keen to start against the Bundesliga side and add to his tally of 43 goals.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who is on a collision course with his former club in the semi-finals should they both progress, could come in for Gonzalo, despite the 21-year-old scoring three goals at the tournament.
"It's inexplicable," said the forward, whom Alonso compared to former Madrid great Raul, saying Gonzalo had some of the same qualities.
"I saw a great ball coming in from Trent, I saw Rudiger didn't get to it and I said to myself, 'this is mine!'" added Gonzalo of his goal against Juventus.
Alonso, who arrived at Madrid from Bayer Leverkusen, will take on his former Bundesliga rivals Dortmund.
"We know (him) very well, he worked two and a half years in Germany, and he did a fantastic job," said Kovac.
"Now he's implementing everything he had in Leverkusen at Real Madrid. So we're expecting the same what we had in Leverkusen, only with different players.
"We're looking forward to it but you have to play football for 90 minutes, and if we put everything onto the pitch, the same performance as we saw (against Monterrey), I think that we will have a good chance."
Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
8 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Al Hilal to Clash with Fluminense in Quarterfinals
Rana Atef Saudi giants Al Hilal are getting ready for a historical clash in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals. Al Hilal became the first Asian and Arabic team to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament with its new system and style. Tonight, Al Hilal will clash with Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The match is scheduled for 10 PM Cairo time as fans across the Arab world turn their attention to 'Al Zaaem' hoping the club continue its historic global journey and writes a new chapter in Arab football history. Led by Italian manager Simone Inzaghi, who led Inter Milan to the final of UEFA Champions League, Al Hilal captured a thrilling 4–3 victory over English champions Manchester City in extra time. It was a night to remember, with standout performances from Marcos Leonardo, Malcom, and Kalidou Koulibaly propelling the club into the last eight. Also, Al Hilal's goalkeeper and Morocco international Yassine Bounou showed impressive skills during the tournament. On the other hand, Fluminense advanced to the quarter-finals after a commanding 2–0 win over Italian side Inter Milan. read more Japan Stun Spain 2-1 to Qualify for World Cup Last 16 World Cup 2022: Get to Know Confirmed Line-ups of Japan and Spain Group E Decider Saudi Arabia Bid Farewell to World Cup after 2-1 Loss to Mexico Tunisia Achieve Historic Win over France but Fail to Qualify Tunisia to Clash against France in World Cup Sports Get to Know Squad of Group D Teams in World Cup Sports Al Ahly Gift EGP 70,000 to Players After Claiming Egyptian Super Cup Title Sports Bencharki Hits First 2 Goals with Al Jazira Since Leaving Zamalek Sports Arsenal Possible Line-up for Nottingham Forest News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Al-Ahram Weekly
10 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Riquelme leaves Atletico Madrid for Real Betis - World
Atletico Madrid's Spanish winger Rodrigo Riquelme has signed a contract with Real Betis until 2030, the two clubs confirmed on Friday. "Atletico Madrid and Real Betis have reached an agreement for the transfer of Rodrigo Riquelme," Atletico wrote in a statement, without specifying the transfer fee for the 25-year-old Spanish international, who came through the club's youth system. The two teams finalised the deal last week for a reported eight million euros ($9.4 million) for half the Spanish player's rights, with Atletico retaining the other half. Riquelme will replace 19-year-old Jesus Rodriguez, who joined Italian club Como this week for a reported 25 million euros ($29.4 million). Riquelme came through the youth ranks at Atletico and played for Bournemouth and Mirandes before exploding into prominence at Girona in the 2022-23 season. He earned two caps for Spain after making his debut in November 2023. In total, he made 85 appearances in La Liga, 13 in the Champions League, and 14 in the Copa del Rey. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
15 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Bayern stand before PSG in battle of Club World Cup favourites
Real Madrid can never be ruled out, but the Spanish giants are a work in progress under new coach Xabi Alonso before playing Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in New Jersey. Meanwhile PSG came to the United States fresh from winning the UEFA Champions League in style in Munich at the end of May, and Luis Enrique's side have eased their way to the quarter-finals despite a slip-up against Brazil's Botafogo in the group stage. Bayern finished second in their group behind Benfica but the manner with which they disposed of Flamengo in the last 16, with Harry Kane scoring twice in a 4-2 victory, showed that the German champions mean business. Vincent Kompany's team have netted 16 goals across four matches and may now feel they have a point to prove after falling short in the Champions League -- Bayern lost in the last eight in Europe to an Inter Milan team eventually humiliated 5-0 by PSG in the final. "We followed PSG's season with interest. It was a great story because things were not perfect at the beginning and yet, despite the criticism of them, they kept fighting and believing," Kompany said. "But that doesn't change anything for us. We want to win." Club World Cup success would cap a promising first year in charge of Bayern for former Belgium defender Kompany, who led them to Bundesliga glory as they reclaimed the domestic title from Bayer Leverkusen. 'We can beat anyone' PSG eventually conquered Europe, but Bayern defeated the French side 1-0 in the league phase of the Champions League back in November. "We have to try to take the energy and the good feeling into this match. We know it's going to be difficult but we feel like we can beat anyone when we're at our top level," Kane, who has 41 goals in 50 club appearances since last August, told Bayern's website. PSG -- who lost to Bayern in the Champions League final in 2020 -- are fresh from crushing Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 in the last 16 and the dream of a world title to add to their French and European crowns is very much alive. "We are having a historic season for our club and we want to extend it in this competition," said coach Luis Enrique. "Our objective is to go as far as possible, but to do that (and reach the final) we still need to come through two ties." This will be PSG's 63rd match in all competitions going back to the start of the Ligue 1 season last August, and Luis Enrique is hoping for one last push from his exhausted players before they can enjoy a short summer break. The build-up to the game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta has been overshadowed by the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota in a car accident in Spain on Thursday. Four PSG players -- Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Goncalo Ramos -- were all international teammates of Jota's and all played alongside him in the Portugal team that won the UEFA Nations League barely four weeks ago. Luis Enrique's squad held a long moment's silence before training on Thursday after learning of Jota's death, as did Bayern ahead of their session. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
