Al-Hilal out to banish minor crisis against Riyadh rivals Al-Shabab

DUBAI: Are all-conquering Al-Hilal fallible?

This is the question being asked after a week in which the holders were beaten – for the first time in a record 57 domestic games – by dark horses Al-Khaleej to cede top spot in the Roshn Saudi League to Al-Ittihad and then draw with Qatar’s Al-Sadd to be replaced at the AFC Champions League Elite League Stage’s West Region summit by Al-Ahli.

Although the Champions League progress to the knockout stages of Al-Hilal – as well as the other Saudi clubs involved, Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr – has been confirmed – this mini-slump has shaken predictions of a 2024-25 procession for Jorge Jesu star-studded troupe.

Arab News takes a look at topics rivals can find encouragement from ahead of Saturday night’s derby at much-improved neighbors Al-Shabab.

If you look at the numbers

Of course for a team this is, uniquely, well, not yet time to ring the alarm bell.

A return of two wins, two draws – Al-Hilal’s other dropped points came in the much-hyped Riyadh Derby at Al-Nassr on November 1 – and a run of five defeats is a little concerning. But this followed a staggering run of 18 consecutive victories that included the 2023-2024 King’s Cup and 2024-2025 Saudi Super Cup successes.

Since Jesus was reinstated at the beginning of last season, he has overseen 68 wins, eight draws and just four defeats. The Portuguese mastermind is also responsible for the leading goalscorers in this term’s RSL (29) and AFC Champions League (17).

All this has been achieved with only minimal appearances by Brazilian megastar Neymar due to injuries.

Nothing lasts forever in football.

Manchester City’s current travails in Europe demonstrate this maxim. There are reasons for Hilal’s concern.

No Neves, no party?

It feels impertinent to single out one name from a galaxy of superstars, but Ruben Neves is a special case.

Hilal has not been the same since, first, a knee injury necessitated his removal in the October 21 win at Asian champions Al-Ain and, second, surgery earlier this month. Senior physician Dr. Juan Jimenez expected a “return to action in January”, meaning solutions must be found.

The Portuguese defensive midfielder has excelled since being signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers and made a strong case to be considered the smartest signing of the changing summer 2023 recruitment drive across the Kingdom.

He is also a player without a natural replacement in Hilal’s squad. A situation accentuated by the pre-season exit of club icon Salman Al-Faraj to the ambitious NEOM SC and a loan to Ettifaq for Abdulelah Al-Malki.

This is not the case for injured strikers Neymar and Salem Al-Dawsari, despite their incredible talents.

Nobody can question the ability of Mohamed Kanno, Nasser Al-Dawsari or Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. But this trio performs different tasks in midfield than the defunct Neves.

Hilal has only kept two clean sheets in seven games since the 27-year-old was sidelined. This is a gap that needs to be closed, especially after the impending end of the winter break versus Ittihad in the King’s Cup quarter-finals on January 7, 2025.

Stronger opposition?

By the end of matchweek 11 in 2023–24, Hilal had already gained a four point advantage over Nassr and were the division’s only unbeaten outfit.

Holder’s Ittihad were a distant sixth, eight points behind, and then-promoted Ahli were fifth with 22 points to the leaders’ 29.

A giant improvement at Ittihad puts them a point ahead of champions Hilal at the same stage of the season, despite both Nassr and Ahli registering fewer points from their opening top-flight matches.

Laurent Blanc’s summer arrival in Jeddah has rejuvenated 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. His RSL tally of eight goals in eight games is just one short of the whole of 2023-24 (nine goals in 21 games).

This has been helped by the huge influences of fellow Francophones Moussa Diaby – with a leading 10 assists – and last-gasp hero Houssem Aouar.

With N’Golo Kante and Fabinho patrolling the midfield for the competition’s second-best defenders (eight goals conceded in 11 games), Ittihad are not backing down in this engaging title battle.

Mitrovic addiction

Bafetimbi Gomis had looked irreplaceable in the hearts of Hilal supporters – that is, until Aleksandar Mitrovic turned up.

The Serbian centre-forward has exceeded all expectations since a long-awaited move from Fulham was finally completed in August 2023. He has struck a formidable 59 times in 63 games en route to four pieces of silverware.

In a strong supporting role in 2023-24, Malcom scored 25 times and Salem Al-Dawsari 24 times across all competitions, to Mitrovic’s 40. This season he is more of a solo act.

A fearsome tally of 19 goals in 20 games dwarfs that of compatriot Milinkovic-Savic (six), Salem Al-Dawsari and Marcos Leonardo (both seven) and Malcom (three).

If Mitrovic doesn’t shoot, it reduces Hilal’s odds of winning.

Summer signings have yet to be highlighted

Hilal’s sense of purpose in reclaiming the RSL trophy in 2023-24 was intense.

An ominous set of pre-season signings set the course for domestic dominance. This pre-season batch has yet to make a similarly profound impression.

Portuguese right-back Joao Cancelo has saved his best for Asian football following his move to Manchester City. A fantastic goal at Al-Rayyan and four assists in five games is far superior to a return of two assists in nine league games.

It’s a similar tale for Brazilian youth striker Marcos Leonardo, signed from Benfica. Returns of two goals in four AFC games and two goals in two King’s Cup games look far healthier than two goals in eight top-flight games.

Availability issues have hampered speedy left-back Moteb Al-Harbi since being bought from Shabab, with one goal in six games. Ettifaq loanee Khalid Al-Ghannam, unsurprisingly, has one assist to show from six fleeting appearances.

The competition for places is fierce. This second wave of signings under Jesus must fight for every minute on the pitch.

A bigger threat of being usurped could provide a needed jolt to the existing Hilal squad for the upcoming challenges.