Another setback in the title race: Al-Hilal only manages a draw against Al-Taawoun
In a thrilling night of football, Al-Hilal returned with a single point from their away match against Al-Taawoun, after their postponed match from the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League ended in a 1-1 draw. This result was not enough for "The Boss" to strengthen their position at the top of the standings, and instead opened the door wide for their rivals to seize the lead in a heated race for the title of the strongest league in the region.
Details of the Buraidah match
The match began with Al-Hilal's expected dominance, as the Blue team sought to impose their style from the opening minutes. This pressure resulted in a penalty in the 41st minute, which Portuguese star Ruben Neves successfully converted, giving Al-Hilal the lead. However, Al-Hilal's joy was short-lived, as before the end of the first half, Al-Taawoun managed to earn a penalty of their own, which Colombian striker Roger Martinez converted in stoppage time to equalize, bringing the game back to square one.
A worrying number and a continuous series of draws
This draw wasn't just about dropping two points; it was Al-Hilal's seventh this season, a worrying statistic for fans and approaching the club's highest number of draws in a single season in its history in the Saudi Professional League. The team previously recorded seven draws in the 2010-11, 2020-21, and 2021-22 seasons, and eight in both the 2017-18 and 2022-23 seasons. Although Al-Hilal is the only team yet to suffer a defeat in the league, these repeated draws against teams like Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Ahli, Al-Riyadh, and Al-Ittihad highlight the team's difficulty in securing victories and converting field dominance into outright wins.
General context and importance of the current season
This setback comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is experiencing unprecedented media and fan interest. With Saudi clubs attracting some of the world's biggest football stars, the competition for the title has become fiercer than ever. Al-Hilal, as the record holder for the most league titles and one of the strongest clubs in Asia, enters each season as the favorite. But this season, they face stiff competition from clubs that have significantly strengthened their squads, making every match a final, and every dropped point could ultimately cost them the title.
Impact on the title race
The draw intensified the competition at the top of the league table. It allowed Al-Ahli to maintain their lead with 56 points, while Al-Hilal remained on 55. Their traditional rivals, Al-Nassr, are also closely watching these results to strengthen their position and attempt to seize the top spot. This extreme closeness in points among the leading teams puts immense pressure on the players and coaching staff, highlighting that winning the Roshan League title this season will require consistent performance and the ability to secure victories under the most difficult circumstances – the biggest challenge for Al-Hilal in the upcoming rounds.
