As the tension thickens in the Saudi Professional League, the spotlight shifts to the thrilling clash poised to unfold at Al-Shabab Club Stadium, where the ambitious Al-Hilal will lock horns with Al Shabab this Saturday. Ambition fuels Al-Hilal’s quest for supremacy as they endeavor to ascend to the pinnacle of the league standings.
Al Shabab, languishing in recent encounters—having succumbed to defeat in their last three face-offs against the formidable visitors—are more than eager to dismantle this streak, vying instead to solidify their standing among the elite. Their resolve is palpable as they prepare to defend their territory with tenacity against Al-Hilal’s attacking prowess.
Match Preview
Recent performance reveals Al Shabab’s struggle as they faltered to a 1-1 stalemate against Al-Okhdood, an encounter that quashed their aspirations to break into the top three. Despite a promising first-half lead, courtesy of an own goal by Naif Assery, equality was restored shortly after halftime by Knowledge Musona. This setback followed a run of four consecutive victories, including a solid 2-0 triumph over Al-Riyadh in the King’s Cup, showcasing their potential.
Returning to the comfort of their home ground, where they’ve exhibited impressive form—garnering 15 points from five matches—they remain determined to challenge Al-Hilal. With a total of 22 points from 11 matches, they currently sit fourth, tantalizingly close to third-placed Al Nassr and fifth-placed Al Qadsiah.
In stark contrast, Al-Hilal faced a hiccup as their 100% record in the AFC Champions League dissipated following a 1-1 draw with Qatar’s Al-Sadd. Ali Albulayhi had ignited their hopes early, but Paulo Otavio’s late equalizer denied them full spoils, although they remain in a commendable second place in the Western Division standings, trailing leaders Al Ahli.
Adding to the drama, Al-Hilal recently suffered a sharp 3-2 defeat to Al-Khaleej, marking their first league loss, a bitter pill to swallow for Jorge Jesus and his squad, now pursuing redemption with a point tally of 28 from 11 league outings.
Team News
Al Shabab will be challenged by the absence of key players, notably the attacking firepower of Fahad Al-Muwallad and the influential Yannick Carrasco, both sidelined due to injury woes. Veteran goalkeeper Seung-gyu Kim, still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, remains unavailable alongside Moroccan forward Abderrazak Hamdallah, who is also coping with muscle difficulties.
On the opposite end, the injury woes for Al-Hilal loom large, particularly with superstar Neymar sidelined until mid-December due to a hamstring injury. His compatriot Malcom, along with midfielder Ruben Neves, is similarly on the injury list, absent until January.
Al Shabab likely lineup: Bounou; Tambakti, Koulibaly, Al-Bulayhi; Cancelo, Lodi, Kanno, Al Dawsari; Leonardo, Al-Dawsari, Mitrovic
Al-Hilal likely lineup: Al-Mayouf; Renan, Hoedt, Al Sharari; Alsebyani, Juwayr, Cuellar, Al-Thain; Guanca, Podence, Bonaventura
We predict: Al Shabab 0-2 Al-Hilal
While Al Shabab has shown flashes of brilliance lately, they are about to encounter an elite Al-Hilal side, rich in talent and tactical finesse. Given the disparity in caliber and the stakes at play, it seems plausible that Al-Hilal will secure a decisive victory on their quest for league supremacy.