On Tuesday evening, all eyes in Saudi football will be on King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah, where Al-Hilal, the Saudi Professional League leaders, will be the visitors against Al-Taawoun in a rescheduled match from the tenth round of the competition. "The Boss" enters this encounter with high morale, aiming to solidify their lead and continue their march towards the league title, relying on their star-studded squad under the guidance of experienced Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus.
General context and importance of the match
This match comes amidst an exceptional season for Al-Hilal across all competitions. The team has not only comfortably topped the league table but has also achieved a historic winning streak in all tournaments, placing them in the global spotlight. A victory in this rescheduled match would widen the gap with their closest rivals and take another significant step towards reclaiming the domestic title. On the other hand, Al-Taawoun is also enjoying a remarkable season and currently occupies a high position in the standings. They aim for a positive result against the league leaders to solidify their place in the top four and compete for a spot in next season's Asian competitions, making this a highly anticipated clash between two formidable teams.
Expected impact of the confrontation
Domestically, the result of this match represents a crucial turning point in the title race. A victory for Al-Hilal would bring them closer than ever to securing the league title, while any slip-up could offer a glimmer of hope to their pursuers. Regionally and internationally, every Al-Hilal match this season has garnered significant attention, given the team's star-studded roster and record-breaking winning streak. This continued strong performance further enhances the reputation of the Saudi League as one of the most competitive leagues attracting stars and viewers worldwide, and underscores Al-Hilal's strength as one of the leading clubs in Asia.
Al-Hilal's expected lineup
Coach Jorge Jesus, who has succeeded in creating a cohesive and strong team, has settled on the names that will start the match, and he is expected to rely on his main lineup to achieve the three points, which is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou
- Defense: Saud Abdulhamid, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Yasser Al-Shahrani
- Midfield: Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom Felipe
- Forwards: Salem Al-Dawsari, Michael Delgado, Aleksandar Mitrovic
