Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, manager of Al-Hilal, announced the official lineup for their match against Al-Akhdoud in the 26th round of the 2023-2024 Saudi Professional League. Al-Hilal aims to continue their historic winning streak and solidify their lead in the standings as they strive to reclaim the league title.
This match comes in the context of an exceptional season for Al-Hilal, who not only comfortably sit atop the league table, but also set a world record for the most consecutive wins in football history. This achievement reflects the high level of technical, physical, and mental performance the team enjoys under the leadership of Jorge Jesus, who has managed to create a comprehensive playing system that combines defensive solidity with attacking efficiency.
Al-Hilal's official lineup:
Jesus decided to rely on his available attacking force, while compensating for the influential absences, and the lineup was as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou
- Defense: Saud Abdulhamid, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Renan Lodi
- Midfield: Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom
- Forwards: Michael Delgado, Saleh Al-Shehri, Salem Al-Dawsari
The lineup is notable for the continued absence of Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic due to injury, with international forward Saleh Al-Shehri taking his place at center forward – a significant opportunity for Al-Shehri to prove his abilities. Jesus also relies on the stability of the back line, featuring the outstanding Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and a strong defensive quartet led by Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The importance and impact of the match
Domestically, the match represents another step for Al-Hilal towards officially clinching the league title, as the team seeks to maintain its unbeaten record and widen its lead at the top of the table. For Al-Akhdoud, however, the match presents a significant challenge in its fight to avoid relegation from the Pro League, as it aims for a positive result against the league leaders to improve its position in the standings. The surge in the Saudi Pro League, with its attraction of international stars, has transformed every match into an event that garners widespread regional and global attention, placing the performance of teams and players under intense scrutiny and enhancing the marketing and competitive value of the league.
