Ronaldo’s Real held to 1-1 Peace Cup draw by Al-Ittihad

Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi side Al-Ittihad in the Peace Cup yesterday as Cristiano Ronaldo failed to make an impact in his first match at the Santiago Bernabeu with the Spanish giants.

Ronaldo's Real held to 1-1 Peace Cup draw by Al-Ittihad

Real captain Raul put the Spanish giants in the lead in the 55th minute after getting the ball from new teammate Karim Benzema and fending off Obaid Alshamrani to send the ball past the keeper from 12 yards out.

Six minutes later Real's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder had a go from 25 yards out but the ball flew over and behind the net.

Hicham Aboucherouane equalized for Al-Ittihad in the 64th minute with a header into the top corner of the net after beating Fernando Gago to the ball following a free kick by Al Saqri from the left flank.

Benzema and Ronaldo, who was presented before nearly 80,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium earlier this month after he completed his transfer from Manchester United, were both substituted with 25 minutes remaining.

Real beat Irish champions Shamrock Rovers 1-0 in their first pre-season outting on July 20 in which Ronaldo also failed to make an impact, missing two free kicks before being substituted at halftime.

Real's other big name new signing Kaka and Raul Albiol are still on holiday due to their commitments at the Confederations Cup earlier this summer, as are Spanish internationals Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos.

Pepe, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mahamadou Diarra are deemed not fit to play at the moment.

Twelve teams from around the globe, including Sevilla and Aston Villa, are taking part in the fourth edition of the pre-season tournament.

There are four groups with three teams in each. The top team in each group goes through to the semifinals which will be played on July 31. The final takes place two days later in Seville.

Lyon won the last edition of the Peace Cup in 2007.

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