Al-Hilal are set to take on Al Raed in an important Saudi Pro League fixture on Saturday afternoon at the Kingdom Arena. Al-Hilal, who are currently in second place in the league standings, will be looking to close the gap on leaders Al Ittihad, who are just two points ahead. In contrast, Al Raed, occupying 10th place with 14 points, will be hoping to pull off an upset to improve their position.
Al-Hilal’s journey into this match has been a mix of highs and lows. After the November international break, the Blue Waves suffered a shocking 3-2 defeat at the hands of Al Khaleej, who mounted a remarkable second-half comeback. This unexpected loss saw Al-Hilal relinquish the top spot for the first time this season, falling behind Al Ittihad. Al-Hilal then played to a 1-1 draw against Al Sadd in the AFC Champions League Elite, leaving fans concerned about their form.
However, Al-Hilal bounced back in spectacular fashion during the midweek fixture against Al Gharafa. The Blue Waves thrashed their opponents 3-0, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Aleksandar Mitrovic both scoring, showing signs that the team was returning to its dominant self. Al-Hilal will be looking to maintain this momentum as they face Al Raed, who have struggled this season.
Al Raed’s form has been less than impressive, especially on the road. They have faced a tough start to the season, having suffered six defeats, including a recent 1-0 loss to Al Taawoun. In their last four games, they have only won once and have struggled to find the back of the net, failing to score in three of those matches. Al Raed’s away form is particularly concerning, as they have only managed two wins and a draw from six league matches away from home.
Historically, Al Raed has had little success against Al-Hilal, failing to beat them in their last 18 encounters, dating back to April 2015. During this stretch, Al Raed has been outscored 42-12, and their chances of reversing this trend appear slim given Al-Hilal’s outstanding home record, which stands at 28 consecutive league victories at the Kingdom Arena.
In terms of squad news, Al-Hilal will miss the services of Neymar, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, while Ruben Neves is still sidelined due to a long-term issue. Al Raed, meanwhile, will be without Mohammed Fouzair, who is out with a cruciate ligament tear.
Possible Lineups:
• Al-Hilal: Bounou; Cancelo, Tambakti, Al-Bulayhi, Renan Lodi; Milinkovic-Savic, N. Al Dawsari; Malcom, Marcos Leonardo, S. Al Dawsari; Mitrovic
• Al Raed: Moreira; Al Dossary, Al Jayzani, Gonzalez, Qasmi, Al Hawsawi; Sayoud, Abeid, Normann, Al Amri; El Berkaoui
With Al-Hilal’s recent resurgence and Al Raed’s poor away form, the hosts are heavily favored to secure all three points in this upcoming clash.
