Once again, Al-Qadisiyah proved to be a tough opponent for Al-Hilal, the leaders of the Saudi Professional League, forcing a 2-2 draw in their match at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium as part of the 19th round of the competition. With this result, Al-Hilal's Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus, continues his search for his first victory against Al-Qadisiyah this season, extending the team's winless streak against the league leaders.
180-minute details of the conflict
Over two full matches this season, totaling 180 minutes of play, Al-Hilal has failed to secure a victory against Al-Qadisiyah. After a 2-2 draw in the first leg, the same scenario repeated itself in the return match, with each team earning two points from the other in their head-to-head encounters. This setback places Al-Qadisiyah, alongside Al-Ahli, on a short and exclusive list of clubs that have eluded Jesus's men this season, highlighting the strong performances both teams have delivered against the league leaders.
General context: A stumble in the midst of an exceptional season
This draw comes at a time when Al-Hilal is enjoying one of its best seasons ever, comfortably atop the Roshan League standings and boasting a historic winning streak both domestically and continentally. Al-Hilal's dominance, bolstered by world-class stars like Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, has made anything less than a victory a major surprise in Saudi football circles. However, this setback, following another 1-1 draw against Al-Riyadh in the previous round, raises questions about whether the team might be suffering from fatigue or a slight lapse in concentration as the season nears its end.
The importance of the result and its expected impact
Although this draw may not directly affect Al-Hilal's strong chances of winning the title, it carries significant implications. Domestically, it sends a powerful message to the other league clubs that Al-Hilal is not invincible and that their advance can be halted, thus intensifying the competition. For Al-Qadisiyah, securing four points against the likely league champions is a major achievement that boosts player confidence and provides a tremendous morale boost for the remainder of the season. It also highlights the tactical development and high fighting spirit the team has displayed against top teams, further enhancing the growing competitive reputation of the Saudi Professional League on the regional and international stage.
