Al-Hilal will be aiming to extend their advantage atop the Saudi Pro League standings when they welcome Al Fateh to the Kingdom Arena on Friday afternoon. The hosts find themselves in a commanding position, holding a nine-point cushion over second place after 27 matches played. Al Fateh, meanwhile, sit in sixth place with 40 points accumulated over 28 games.
April has been a month of contrasting emotions for Al Hilal. They secured their first piece of major silverware this season with a triumph in the Super Cup over Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad. However, their euphoria was short-lived as their world-record 34-match winning streak was snapped by Al Ain in the AFC Champions League six days later, leading to their eventual elimination from the competition in midweek. Despite winning 2-1 in Riyadh, they were unable to overturn a 4-2 deficit from the first leg.
Al-Hilal will now turn their attention back to their domestic ambitions, seeking to capture the treble. A victory against Al Fateh would put them 12 points clear at the summit before they face Nadi Al-Sha’ab in the King’s Cup semi-final on Tuesday night. With their second-leg win over Al Ain, Jorge Jesus’s side extended their remarkable home record to 19 consecutive victories, failing to score two or more goals in only one match during that period.
On the other hand, Al Fateh have had a solid season thus far, occupying a mid-table position. However, a loss this week could see them drop to eighth place if Al Ettifaq and Damac win their respective matches in gameweek 29. Al Namothji head to the nation’s capital with mixed form, having recorded just three victories in their last 10 Saudi Pro League matches despite their recent 3-1 home win over Al Raed.
Al Fateh will be seeking to continue their impressive home form, where they have only managed one victory in their last four away games (W1 D1 L2) and have failed to keep a clean sheet all season. With Aleksander Mitrovic sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Saleh Alshehri or Abdullah Al-Hamdan are likely to lead the line for the visitors.
Neymar is reportedly nearing the final stages of his recovery from a torn cruciate ligament injury, but it is unlikely he will feature in this match. Mourad Batna, who picked up a knock in Al Fateh’s loss to Abha, is doubtful for the trip to Riyadh. Djaniny, who scored a brace last week, will likely return to lead the attack, supported by Lucas Zelarayan, Othman Al-Othman, and former Barcelona winger Cristian Tello.
Al-Hilal will be eager to bounce back from their AFC Champions League disappointment and regain momentum heading into next week’s King’s Cup semi-final. Al Fateh are known for their resilience, but Al-Hilal will be determined to extend their lead and continue their push for a record-extending 19th Saudi Pro League title.
