The technical staff of Al-Hilal Club, led by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, made crucial technical decisions regarding the team's roster for the match against Al-Kholoud, as part of the twelfth round of the Saudi Professional League, in the match scheduled to be held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah.
In a notable move, Al-Hilal's coach decided to exclude several prominent players from the squad called up for the match. Those omitted included midfielder Abdulilah Al-Malki, defender Ali Al-Bulaihi, and young talent Mohammed Al-Qahtani. Sources indicate that these exclusions come amidst reports suggesting the trio's potential departure from the team in the near future, or as part of the coach's rotation policy to maintain the squad's readiness.
The absences for Al-Hilal in this crucial match aren't limited to tactical decisions; the team is also suffering from significant absences due to injury. The team's captain and star player, Salem Al-Dawsari, is confirmed to be out, along with Portuguese midfield dynamo Ruben Neves, both of whom are continuing their treatment and rehabilitation programs to recover from injuries sustained recently. This presents the coaching staff with a challenge in compensating for these impactful absences.
Al-Hilal enters this match with high morale after securing a hard-fought and valuable victory in the previous round against Al-Khaleej, with a score of three goals to two, in a match held at the Kingdom Arena. The Riyadh-based club aims to continue its winning streak and strengthen its lead in the league standings, especially given the fierce competition this season.
The Al-Hilal vs. Al-Kholoud match holds particular significance, as Al-Hilal seeks to solidify its domestic dominance and widen the points gap with its closest rivals, leveraging the extensive experience of its international players. Meanwhile, Al-Kholoud aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of its fans, hoping to pull off an upset against the defending champions, making the match highly anticipated by fans.
The Saudi Professional League is experiencing a qualitative leap and high competitiveness this season, as away matches have become a real challenge for the major clubs, which requires Al-Hilal to deal very seriously with the course of the match to ensure a return with the three points.
