Al-Hilal's first football team is preparing for a crucial and highly anticipated match when they host Al-Hazm on Thursday evening at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, as part of the 14th round of the Saudi Professional League. This match comes at a time when "The Boss" (Al-Hilal) is aiming to continue its winning streak and solidify its position at the top of the standings.
The history of Al-Hilal vs. Al-Hazm matches: Al-Hilal holds a dominant advantage
Looking back at the historical record of head-to-head matches between the two teams in the Saudi Professional League, Al-Hilal's dominance is clear and undeniable. The two sides have met 14 times previously, with Al-Hilal winning 11 matches, while Al-Hazm managed only one victory, and two matches ended in a draw. The goal tally also reflects the significant difference in quality, with Al-Hilal's attack netting 41 goals against Al-Hazm, while Al-Hazm's attack has only managed 9 goals against the Blues throughout their league encounters.
The two teams' positions in the Roshan League standings
Al-Hilal enters the match sitting comfortably atop the league standings with 32 points, accumulated from ten wins and two draws, remaining undefeated and reflecting the team's impressive form this season. In contrast, Al-Hazm languishes in the relegation zone, occupying eleventh place with 13 points, having won three matches, drawn four, and suffered five defeats.
Key absences and winning cards
Al-Hilal faces this match amidst technical challenges stemming from the absence of key players in its back line. The team will be without its Moroccan international goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, and veteran Senegalese defender, Kalidou Coulibaly, due to their participation with their national teams in the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite these absences, Al-Hilal's coach has a wealth of talent at his disposal capable of compensating for the missing players and making a difference. Leading the charge are the Portuguese midfield duo of Rúben Neves and Serbian Sergej Savić, in addition to the formidable attacking force of Brazilians Malcom and Marcos Leonardo, alongside local stars Salem Al-Dawsari, Hassan Tambakti, and Mohamed Kanno.
Al-Hazm's ambitions and the challenge of the Kingdom Arena
On the other hand, Al-Hazm hopes to pull off a major upset despite the difficulty of the task, playing away from home against the league leaders. Although the team's results have improved somewhat recently, they suffered a defeat in the last round against Neom, which makes them eager to make amends and try to secure a positive result, whether it be a win or a draw. Al-Hazm is relying on a number of professional players, such as Portuguese Fabio Martins, Algerian Amir Sayoud, and goalkeeper Varela, in an attempt to challenge Al-Hilal's stars.
The importance of winning the title race
This match is of paramount importance to Al-Hilal, who have seized the top spot after a run of nine consecutive victories, capitalizing on the stumbles of their direct rivals in recent rounds. The Blues know that a tenth consecutive win will not only secure them three points but will also boost their morale and send a strong message to their competitors about their determination to reclaim the league title, especially as the match will be played at their new stadium, the Kingdom Arena, a sporting architectural masterpiece that will provide an extra incentive for the players to perform at their best in front of their home fans.
