The biggest game in the Saudi Pro League kicks off on Friday night when Al-Nassr welcome Al-Hilal.
The title might be decided, but there will be much pride to play for in the Riyadh Derby when second placed Al-Nassr welcome champions Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League on Friday night.
Al-Nassr’s hopes of claiming the Saudi Pro League title were dashed once again as Al-Hilal secured a commanding 4-1 victory over relegation favorites Al-Hazem, clinching the crown in the process. Despite securing their 25th victory of the season in a tense encounter against Al-Akhdoud, Al-Nassr’s efforts fell short, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s prolific goalscoring form not proving enough to secure the title.
Ronaldo’s 33 league goals and 48 overall mark his best tally since the 2015/16 season, putting him just one goal shy of the all-time Pro League single-season record held by Abderrazak Hamdallah. With three games remaining, Ronaldo’s chance to equal or surpass the record seems likely, something he will cherish against Al-Nassr’s biggest rivals.
Despite their runner-up status for the second consecutive season, Al-Nassr’s achievements, including their victory in the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023, highlight their competitiveness. However, their recent loss to Al-Hilal in the Super Cup semi-final adds extra motivation for revenge in their upcoming encounter.
Al-Hilal’s dominance this season, securing their 19th Pro League title with three games to spare, underscores their status as Saudi Arabia’s premier force. Their unbeaten streak and remarkable run of 24 consecutive league wins highlight their exceptional form under Jorge Jesus, positioning them as firm favorites to complete the domestic treble in the King’s Cup. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Al-Nassr
It is good news for Al-Nassr as manager Luis Castro is set to return to the touchline for their upcoming home match after missing the last game due to lung surgery. Vitor Severino filled in admirably in his absence. But the team will likely benefit from Castro’s presence back in the dugout.
However, Al-Nassr still have several sidelined players due to injuries. Waleed Abdullah is nursing a leg injury, while Anderson Talisca, Sami Al-Najei, and Abdulrahman Ghareeb are all in recovery from muscle issues. Additionally, Nawaf Al-Aqidi remains unavailable as he serves a five-month suspension.
Al-Nassr will stick with the same lineup that has brought them much success, maintaining a 4-1-4-1 formation with David Ospina in goal. The defensive line is expected to feature Sultan Al-Ghannam, Ali Lajami, Aymeric Laporte, and Alex Telles, providing solidity at the back.
Abdullah Al-Khaibari is likely to anchor the midfield, offering protection to the defence, while Ali Alhassan and Marcelo Brozovic operate further forward, dictating the tempo of the game. Ayman Yahya and Sadio Mane are anticipated to provide width on the flanks, stretching the opposition defense. Up front, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to lead the line as the main striker, aiming to add more goals to his incredible tally.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Ospina; Al-Ghannam, Ali Lajami, Laporte, Telles; Al-Khaibari; Yahya, Al-Hassan, Brozovic, Mane; Ronaldo
Al-Hilal
There is good news for Al-Hilal fans as Neymar is set to return to action for the Blue Waves in pre-season after joining his team in celebrating their league triumph. However, he will once again sit out this Friday.
More so, there are concerns over the availability of Salman Al-Faraj, who has been absent from the matchday squad for the last two matches. He will be assessed ahead of this fixture, and a late call is likely to be made regarding his participation.
The champions are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Yassine Bounou in goal. He should be protected by the back four of Saud Abdulhamid, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ali Albulayhi and Yasser Alshahrani.
Ruben Neves and Mohamed Kanno should form the double pivot, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic acting as the number 10. Michael and Malcom should offer the width with the prolific Aleksandar Mitrovic leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Abdulhamid, Koulibaly, Al Bulaihi, Al Shahrani; Neves, Kanno; Michael, Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom; Mitrovic
Key Stats
- The match will see two teams with the most prolific sides face off against each other in the Pro League this season. Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal have scored a combined 188 goals in the top flight this season.
- Al-Hilal are the only unbeaten side in the Saudi Pro League this season.
- Al-Hilal have conceded just 20 goals in the league this season, the best defence in the Saudi top flight.
- Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite for the golden boot with his rival on the night, Mitrovic aiming to clsoe the gap.
Player to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo’s prolific goalscoring form in the current season has been nothing short of remarkable. With his latest strike, he notched up his 33rd league goal of the campaign and his 48th goal overall, marking his best tally since the 2015-16 season with Real Madrid. While he is unlikely to be in contention for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award this season, he could yet make history.
He is on the cusp of breaking the all-time record for the most goals scored by a player in a single Pro League season. The current record is held by Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, who netted 34 goals during the 2018/19 edition of the league. The Postuguese icon loves to make a statement and matching the record against the pre-eminent force in Saudi football sounds right up his alley.
Prediction
Al-Nassr 1-3 Al-Hilal
As the game against Al Akhdoud showed, the Al-Nassr defence can be caught out by pulling the right strings. Despite the stars on the field, Al-Hilal are a more balanced outfit and also have more quality to call upon. Ronaldo is likely to shine but the visitors’ overall quality should see them over the line.