Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal is preparing for its highly anticipated match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the AFC Champions League, amid expectations that veteran Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus will make significant changes to the starting lineup. This move comes in light of the absence of some key players and aims to rest several others, especially after Al-Hilal officially secured its place in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Match context and historical background
Al-Hilal enters this match with high morale and great confidence, sitting atop their group with a perfect record of 18 points from six consecutive victories. This impressive performance has not only secured their early qualification for the knockout stages but has also solidified their position as one of the leading contenders for the continental title. Historically, matches between Saudi and Emirati clubs are always characterized by their competitiveness and excitement, giving this encounter special significance for fans, regardless of their position in the league standings.
The importance of the match and its expected impact
Although the match is a mere formality for Al Hilal in terms of qualification, it holds strategic importance for coach Jorge Jesus. This encounter presents an ideal opportunity to implement his rotation policy, resting key players who have played a large number of matches to avoid fatigue and injuries before the crucial stages of the season. It also offers a valuable chance for substitute players to prove their abilities and gain crucial playing time to maintain their fitness. Regionally, Al Hilal aims to extend its record-breaking winning streak and reaffirm its dominance in Asian football, while the match could be decisive for Shabab Al Ahli in the race for the second qualifying spot.
Al-Hilal's expected lineup
In light of these factors, Jesus is likely to opt for a balanced lineup that combines experience with ready substitutes. The expected lineup is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou
- Defense: Saud Abdulhamid, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hassan Tambakti, Yasser Al-Shahrani
- Midfield: Ruben Neves, Mohamed Kanno, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
- Attackers: Malcom, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Salem Al-Dawsari (or Michael Delgado)
These changes, if they occur, reflect the depth of Al-Hilal’s roster and the ability of the coaching staff to manage the team with high efficiency to compete strongly on all local and continental fronts.
