Al-Hilal vs. Al Fateh – A Clash Between Champions and Strugglers in Saudi Pro League
In a highly anticipated Saudi Pro League clash, Al-Hilal will face off against Al Fateh this Thursday at the Kingdom Arena. As the league leaders, Al-Hilal are set to take on one of the bottom dwellers, Al Fateh, in what is expected to be a dominant performance from the hosts. Al-Hilal are sitting at the top of the league table with 37 points, just ahead of second-placed Al Ittihad on goal difference. On the other hand, Al Fateh is struggling at the bottom, with only six points from 14 matches, and they are a full six points adrift of safety.
Al-Hilal's recent form has been nothing short of exceptional. Despite a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Al Ittihad in the King’s Cup, the Blue Waves bounced back in style, thrashing Al Orubah 5-0 in their last outing. Ruben Neves opened the scoring from the penalty spot, and the floodgates opened in the second half with Ali Albulayhi, Renan Lodi, and Marcos Leonardo all getting on the scoresheet. This resounding victory marked their 12th win in 14 league matches, with only one loss to Al Khaleej back in November, a match that remains their only defeat in over a year. Al-Hilal have firmly established themselves as the dominant force in Saudi football, having claimed the league title six times in the last eight seasons, and they are now positioned to claim yet another title this season.
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Al Fateh, however, have been far from impressive. With a string of defeats and only one win in their last 11 matches under former manager Jens Gustafsson, the club’s struggles have continued under interim coach Guido Hoffmann. Their winless streak extends to 13 matches across all competitions, and with a dreadful away record of just one draw from six games, they are in serious danger of relegation. Al Fateh’s recent form makes them heavy underdogs in this encounter, especially considering that they have lost the last three encounters against Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal will be missing a few key players, including Neymar, who is still recovering from injury, and the influential Salem Al Dawsari, who is nursing a muscle problem. Additionally, Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic will miss out due to a hamstring injury. However, Al-Hilal can take comfort in the fact that they have several strong attacking options, including the likes of Leonardo, who scored twice in their last game, and the versatile Lodi.
As for Al Fateh, they will rely on midfielder Sofiane Bendebka, who was a standout performer in their last match, and Djaniny, their top scorer, could return to the starting lineup. Despite their best efforts, Al Fateh face a tough task against a well-drilled Al-Hilal side that has won every home match this season.
With Al-Hilal’s impressive form and Al Fateh’s struggles, it's hard to see anything other than a comprehensive victory for the hosts. Al-Hilal’s attacking strength and solid defense should see them comfortably extend their lead at the top of the table, while Al Fateh will have to dig deep to avoid further setbacks. Expect a confident 3-0 win for the reigning champions as they continue their quest for another Saudi Pro League title.
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