Al-Ettifaq Club received an important moral and technical boost before its anticipated match against Al-Hilal Club, the leader of the Saudi Professional League standings, as the team regained the services of its prominent player Khaled Al-Ghannam after his full recovery from the injury that kept him away from the fields during the past period.
Al-Ghannam participated in the team's group training session in preparation for the crucial match, which will be held as part of the 22nd round of the competition at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. The medical staff confirmed the player's full readiness to participate, giving English manager Steven Gerrard an additional attacking option to bolster the team's strength in this decisive game.
The context of the confrontation and its importance
This match comes at a time when Al-Ettifaq, under the leadership of Gerard, is seeking a positive result to continue its recent run of good form, the latest of which was a valuable 2-0 victory over Damac in the last round. The "Knights of Ad-Dahna" aspire to improve their position in the league standings and prove their ability to compete with the top teams, especially against a team of Al-Hilal's caliber, which has yet to suffer a defeat in the league.
On the other hand, Al-Hilal enters the match comfortably atop the league standings, having delivered exceptional performances this season thanks to a constellation of local and international stars. The "Leaders" aim to continue their triumphant march towards reclaiming the league title, making the match a formidable challenge for both the home and away teams.
The expected impact of Al-Ghannam's return
The return of Khalid Al-Ghannam, the speedy and skillful winger, is a significant boost to Al-Ettifaq's attack. His dribbling ability and penetrating skills will provide the team with diverse attacking options, especially given Al-Hilal's strong defense. It is expected that Gerard will rely on him to disrupt Al-Hilal's defense and create opportunities for his teammates, whether he starts the match or comes on as an impactful substitute in the second half.
This match is not only important for the three points at stake, but also represents a true test for Al-Ettifaq's new project and its ambitions, especially given the significant support enjoyed by the Saudi Professional League, which has become a focus of global attention. All eyes will be on the performance of both teams in this highly anticipated and competitive match.
