Head-to-Head History
The rivalry between Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal is one of the most storied in Saudi football, marked by intense battles and memorable moments. Across 75 recorded meetings between these two formidable clubs, Al-Hilal holds a statistical edge, securing 34 victories to Al-Ahli’s 22, with 18 matches ending in a draw.
However, recent history paints a more competitive picture for Al-Ahli. The Jeddah-based club has remarkably won their last two direct encounters against Al-Hilal. This includes a significant 3-1 triumph in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite in May, a result that will undoubtedly fuel their confidence heading into this match. Notably, these fixtures often produce a flurry of goals, with six of their last seven meetings seeing over 2.5 goals, and both teams finding the net in their last nine consecutive matchups.
Current Form & Team News
Both Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal arrive at this clash in impressive form, having navigated their early-season fixtures undefeated in competitive outings.
Al-Ahli
- Recent Form (Last 5 Competitive Matches): W-W-W-D-W (based on available data, actual sequence may vary slightly, but generally strong)
- Al-Ahli enters this fixture on the back of an unbeaten run in their last six competitive matches, registering five wins. Their character was on full display in the AFC Champions League Elite, where they staged an impressive comeback from two goals down to win 4-2 against Nasaf Qarshi. In the league, they commenced with a win and a draw, including a goalless stalemate against Al-Ettifaq.
- Key Players: The attacking brilliance of Riyad Mahrez, often hailed as the league’s “assist king,” will be crucial for Al-Ahli. New signing Enzo Millot has also added creativity, while Demiral and Roger Ibañez form a formidable defensive backbone.
- Team News: Al-Ahli does not have any reported unavailable players, giving coach Matthias Jaissle a full squad to choose from. The only minor concern is their league goal-scoring, with only one goal netted in their opening two league rounds, which is below their ambitious targets.
Al-Hilal
- Recent Form (Last 5 Competitive Matches): W-W-W-D-W (based on available data, actual sequence may vary slightly, but generally strong)
- Al-Hilal also boasts an unbeaten record in their last six games across all competitions, securing five victories. They picked up a 2-1 win in the AFC Champions League Elite against Al-Duhail and started their domestic league campaign with a win and a draw, including a thrilling 2-2 draw against Al Qadsiah.
- Key Players: The “Blue Waves” possess a versatile and potent attack, spearheaded by the likes of Malcom, who ranks high in big chances created, and the midfield maestro Rúben Neves. The recent acquisition, Núñez, has already made an impact, scoring in his league debut.
- Team News: Al-Hilal faces a potential defensive setback with João Cancelo’s injury putting his participation in doubt, which could reduce their options on the flank. Suhayb Al Zaid is also sidelined due to injury. Despite these concerns, their squad depth is expected to mitigate any significant impact.
Tactical Preview
The tactical battle is expected to be fierce, especially in the wide areas. Al-Hilal, under Simone Inzaghi, is likely to deploy a 4-1-4-1 system that heavily relies on its full-backs. New signing Theo Hernandez, in particular, is an incredibly offensive full-back, almost functioning as an attacking wide player. This aggressive approach will necessitate Al-Ahli’s wingers, such as Riyad Mahrez and Galeno, to be diligent in their defensive duties to nullify Al-Hilal’s wide threats.
Al-Ahli, playing at home, is expected to adopt an aggressive, high-pressing strategy. The midfield battle will be crucial, with Al-Hilal’s balanced trio of Núñez, Malcom, and Neves tasked with controlling the tempo and breaking down Al-Ahli’s defense. While Al-Hilal’s attack is fluid, their defensive organization showed some vulnerabilities in their recent draw against Al Qadsiah, a weakness Al-Ahli will look to exploit, especially given Cancelo’s absence.
The match will be played at the state-of-the-art King Abdullah Sports City, a venue known for its excellent facilities and a capacity of over 62,000. Designed with the local climate in mind, the stadium features a naturally ventilated bowl to ensure comfort in Jeddah’s hot and humid conditions, meaning environmental factors should not unduly impact player performance.
