Al-Hilal, the leader of the Saudi Professional League, is preparing to face Al-Fayha in an important match in the seventeenth round of the competition, in a match to be held at the “Kingdom Arena” stadium. However, the squad of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus enters the match with a list suffering from significant absences that may affect his technical choices.
Among the key absentees for Al-Hilal are prominent names in the squad, most notably international star Salem Al-Dawsari , the best player in Asia, who is continuing his treatment and rehabilitation program due to a recent injury that has kept him out of recent matches. Al-Dawsari's absence is a significant blow to the team's attack, given his exceptional technical and skillful abilities in both creating and scoring goals.
On the defensive front, doubts surround the participation of the solid Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly , who is suffering from a thigh injury. His final status will be determined after a final medical examination before the match, and his absence would leave a significant gap in Al-Hilal's central defense. Furthermore, coach Jorge Jesus has decided to rest the outstanding Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou , a move aimed at giving him a break and implementing a rotation policy given the congested fixture schedule. This opens the door for goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie to guard Al-Hilal's goal in this encounter.
The context and importance of the match
Al-Hilal enters this match in an exceptional period, comfortably atop the league standings with a significant lead over its closest rivals, having achieved a historic and consecutive winning streak. This match comes as the team seeks to maintain its dominance, widen the points gap, and solidify its status as the top contender for the title. Testing the squad's depth amidst these absences presents a real challenge for Jesus, who relies on the readiness of all his players to maintain the team's upward trajectory.
Expected impact of the confrontation
At the local level, this match presents an opportunity for Al-Fayha to capitalize on Al-Hilal's significant absences and secure a positive result that could improve their position in the league standings. For Al-Hilal, however, a victory despite being a man down would send a powerful message to all rivals: the team's strength lies not only in its starting lineup but also in its cohesive system and deep bench. Regionally, football fans across the region closely follow Al-Hilal's performance as one of the strongest clubs on the continent, and any unexpected result would be a major talking point in the sports media.
