Al-Hilal, the Saudi Pro League leaders, suffered a major blow ahead of their upcoming match against Al-Ettifaq, after their French international left-back Theo Hernandez sustained a sudden injury that sidelined him from the team's training session on Thursday. It is now certain that the player will miss the match against Al-Ettifaq on Friday evening in the 22nd round of the league.
According to initial reports, Hernandez suffered an ankle injury. Although he has not yet undergone a thorough medical examination to determine the extent of the injury and the expected duration of his absence, the coaching staff, led by coach Jorge Jesus, decided to exclude him from the match as a precautionary measure. Young Saudi player Mutaib Al-Harbi is expected to fill the left-back position to compensate for the French star's absence in this important encounter.
General context: Al-Hilal is at its peak
This development comes at a time when Al-Hilal is enjoying an exceptional period, sitting atop the Saudi Professional League standings with 59 points before this round, maintaining an unbeaten record and achieving a historic winning streak. The signing of world-class stars like Theo Hernandez, who arrived from AC Milan, is part of the Saudi league's strategy to raise the level of competition and attract global attention, which means any injury to a player of this caliber will be a matter of widespread interest.
The importance of the match and the impact of Hernandez's absence
The Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ettifaq match holds particular significance, not only because it pits the league leaders against a strong team managed by Englishman Steven Gerrard, but also because it comes at a crucial stage of the season as Al-Hilal seeks to extend its lead at the top. The absence of Hernandez is a significant tactical blow, given his exceptional attacking abilities, his speed in building play from the left flank, and his pivotal defensive contributions. This absence will be a true test of Al-Hilal's squad depth and the ability of the substitutes to maintain the high level of performance that has characterized the team this season. Internationally, injuries to key players in the Saudi league are a cause for concern for clubs and national teams worldwide, especially with international fixtures approaching, as Hernandez is a cornerstone of the French national team.
