All eyes in Saudi football will be on the Kingdom Arena on Friday evening, as Al-Hilal, the Saudi Professional League leaders, host Al-Ettifaq in the 22nd round of the competition. The "Leaders" enter this match with high morale, aiming to strengthen their lead, widen the gap with their closest rivals, and continue their impressive winning streak both domestically and continentally.
The match takes on special significance as it pits two teams with a rich history in Saudi football against each other. Al-Hilal, led by their experienced Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, are enjoying an exceptional season, remaining undefeated in the league so far and breaking records thanks to their well-rounded performance that combines defensive solidity with attacking efficiency. On the other side, Al-Ettifaq, under the guidance of English coach Steven Gerrard, are aiming for a positive result against the league leaders to improve their position in the standings and prove their ability to compete with the top teams, especially after a period of inconsistent results.
Coach Jorge Jesus is expected to field his strongest lineup, maintaining a balanced formation across all lines. He has largely settled on his starting eleven, aiming to dominate from the opening minutes and secure an early victory. This match represents another test of Al-Hilal's strength and ability to handle pressure as they strive to maintain their unbeaten record and reclaim the league title.
Al-Hilal's expected lineup against Al-Ettifaq is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou.
- Defense line: Saud Abdulhamid, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Renan Lodi.
- Midfield: Ruben Neves, Sergej Savic, Salem Al-Dawsari.
- Attack line: Malcom Felipe, Michael Delgado, Aleksandar Mitrovic.
This formation represents Al-Hilal's formidable attacking force, with Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou providing security for the defense, led by Senegalese defender Coulibaly. In midfield, the duo of Neves and Savic form a world-class pivot capable of controlling the tempo of the game, while the attacking trio, spearheaded by Serbian striker Mitrovic and supported by Malcom and Salem Al-Dawsari, offers diverse attacking options and a remarkable ability to score goals, making Al-Ettifaq's defense a formidable opponent.
