The coaching staff of Al-Hilal's first football team, led by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, received a major blow just hours before the resumption of the Saudi Professional League. The chances of the team's captain and star player, Salem Al-Dawsari, participating in the highly anticipated match against Al-Fayha have significantly diminished due to his lack of full medical fitness.
Details of the Tornado injury and the medical staff's stance
Al-Hilal's medical staff did not clear Al-Dawsari to participate in the match due to a hamstring injury. This injury stems from the intense Riyadh derby match between Al-Hilal and their arch-rivals Al-Nassr in the fifteenth round of the competition, a match characterized by strong physical challenges that resulted in the player experiencing pain requiring an intensive treatment and rehabilitation program over the past period.
The impact of the absence of Asia's best player on Al-Hilal
The absence of Salem Al-Dawsari, the reigning Asian Player of the Year, is a significant blow to Al-Hilal, given his pivotal role in linking the midfield and attack, as well as his individual brilliance and ability to make a difference in tight matches. This absence presents coach Jesus with a tactical challenge in finding a suitable replacement to fill Al-Dawsari's role, especially as Al-Hilal aims to extend its winning streak and maintain its unbeaten record.
Match date and the teams' positions in the standings
Al-Hilal is scheduled to host Al-Fayha on Thursday evening at 8:30 PM Mecca time, in the 17th round of the Saudi Professional League. Al-Hilal enters the match sitting alone at the top of the league table with 41 points, accumulated from impressive performances since the start of the season, making them the clear favorites to win the title.
In contrast, Al-Fayha enters the match in an unenviable position, occupying the thirteenth place with only 14 points, and seeks to come out with a positive result against the leader to improve its position in the standings and move away from the danger zones, which suggests a confrontation that may witness a defensive formation from the visitors and a sweeping attack from the home team despite the influential absences.
