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Arab News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Al-Hilal host Al-Orobah at Kingdom Arena
RIYADH: Al-Hilal host Al-Orobah in a first meeting between the two sides at the Kingdom Arena at 7:05pm today, Monday, as part of Round 31 of the Saudi Pro League (Roshn League). For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Both teams head into the match looking to extend their winning streaks — Al-Hilal defeated Al-Raed 5-3, while Al-Orobah overcame Al-Riyadh 4-2 in the previous round. The two sides have previously faced off five times in the Pro League, with no matches ending in a draw. Al-Hilal won four of those encounters, while Al-Orobah claimed one victory. In their most recent clash, which took place at Al-Jouf University Stadium in Round 13 of the first half of the season, Al-Hilal recorded their largest-ever win over Al-Orobah, scoring five goals. Interim Al-Hilal coach Mohammed Al-Shalhoub aims to secure all three points and maintain pressure on league leaders Al-Ittihad, who currently sit six points ahead. He is expected to rely on the same lineup that faced Al-Raed, with the return of Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo. On the other side, Al-Orobah's Spanish coach Antonio Cazorla hopes to win and move away from the relegation zone, counting on key players including Syrian striker Omar Al-Somah, Spaniard Cristian Tello, and Jordanian defender Muhannad Abu Taha. Al-Hilal currently sit second in the league table with 65 points, while Al-Orobah is in 16th place with 30 points. And at 9:00pm Al-Okhdood's football team will be aiming for their first-ever victory over Al-Nassr at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Najran. The two teams have met three times in the Pro League, with Al-Nassr winning all three matches. Al-Okhdood is now seeking their first victory against the Yellow team in the top flight. Al-Okhdood currently sit in 17th place — second from bottom — with 28 points, and is fighting to avoid relegation. The team will be missing one of its key players, Brazilian midfielder Petros Matheus, due to injury. On the other hand, Al-Nassr is in fourth place in the league table with 60 points and is looking to bounce back from a 3-2 home defeat to Al-Ittihad in the previous round. It's worth noting that the first-leg match between the two sides ended in a 3-1 victory for Al-Nassr, with Sadio Mane scoring twice and Cristiano Ronaldo adding a goal, while Saviour Godwin scored Al-Okhdood's goal.
Al Arabiya
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
SPL week 22: Five-star Al Hilal bounces back, Al Ittihad held and Ronaldo leads Benzema
The Saudi Pro League is now home to some of football's most recognizable names, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang putting the competition on the global football map. Each week, Al Arabiya English brings you the key storylines and highlights in the race for the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League title. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. In Week 21, Al Hilal breathed life back into the title race – capitalizing on Al Ittihad's surprise draw with Al Khaleej to close the gap at the top of the table, courtesy of a thumping win over Al Kholood. Elsewhere, Al Ahli claimed a huge victory over fellow AFC Champions League Elite hopeful Al Qadsiah to spice up the battle for third place, while Cristiano Ronaldo leapfrogged Karim Benzema at the top of the scoring charts after netting in Al Nassr's win at Al Wehda. Kholood KO'd by five-star Al Hilal Al Hilal delivered exactly the type of response coach Jorge Jesus would have hoped for following last weekend's damaging defeat to title rival Al Ittihad. Jesus' team immediately bounced back with a ruthless 5-1 thrashing of Al Kholood at the Kingdom Arena. Al Hilal's wingers were in particularly irrepressible form as Malcom and Salem al-Dawsari each helped themself to a brace, with Marcos Leonardo adding the other goal in a win that brought the reigning Saudi Pro League champion back to within five points of leader Ittihad. Malcom set Al Hilal on its way just two minutes into the game after combining brilliantly with al-Dawsari, whose scooped through-ball was headed in by his Brazilian team-mate. The Al Hilal and Saudi Arabia national team captain then added his own name to the scoresheet, tapping in from close range after Marcos Leonardo's initial effort was parried his way. The first half went from bad to worse for Kholood in the 20th minute as Malcom fired in his second goal of the night, striking left-footed past goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's knockdown. Before the half-hour mark, Jesus' team was 4-0 up thanks to a goal made in Brazil. Marcos Leonardo continued his rich vein of recent scoring form for Hilal – now 14 in his last 11 Saudi Pro League games – as he rose unmarked to head home a cross from compatriot Kaio César. Unsurprisingly, Al Hilal took its foot off the gas a little in the second half but there was still one more goal as Kaio Cesar was creator again – laying the ball off for al-Dawsari to sweep home his second of the match. Abdulrahman al-Safari's late consolation for Al Kholood could not take the shine off a result that breathed life straight back into the Saudi Pro League title race. Late leveler sees Al Ittihad stumble Heading into the sixth minute of stoppage time of Al Ittihad's clash with Al Khaleej on Wednesday night, it seemed as though Laurent Blanc's league leader had produced a professional performance that had consolidated its position at the top of the table. That was until Greek midfielder Kostas Fortounis struck a late equalizer from the penalty spot – snatching a 1-1 draw that knocked the wind out of Al Ittihad's sail and reduced the gap between itself and second-placed Al Hilal to five points. Just a few days earlier, Al Ittihad produced a performance worthy of a champion-elect as it blew away Al Hilal 4-1 in Jeddah. But having given everything to get that result, Blanc's side appeared a little more labored at the Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam. In truth, it was a genuinely close contest, with Al Khaleej raising its level and drawing multiple saves from Al Ittihad goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic – notably in the first half when the Serbian was regularly called into action. But Al Ittihad did sneak ahead in the 78th minute with an excellent team goal. Captain Benzema switched the ball to Moussa Diaby, who released Fawaz al-Sqoor in the penalty area. The Saudi right-back's fizzing cross was turned home at the back post by Abdulrahman al-Oboud, who has exploded into life recently with five goals in his past seven matches. It stayed 1-0 until the sixth minute of stoppage time, when Fortounis held his nerve under substantial pressure to bear Rajkovic from 12 yards to grab a deserved point for Al Khaleej – condemning Ittihad to a draw that will certainly be viewed as two points lost. Al Ahli joins hunt for third spot After a slow start to the season, Al Ahli has improved dramatically in recent months and produced arguably its best display of 2024-25 to beat fellow in-form side Al Qadsiah 4-1 in Jeddah on Tuesday. It means coach Matthias Jaissle has now guided his players to an impressive run of 15 wins in 18 games in all competitions. Victory over Al Qadsiah puts Al Ahli only three points behind its opponent – and Ronaldo's Al Nassr – in the race for third place in the Saudi Pro League, while Jaissle' side has also progressed unbeaten into the last-16 of the AFC Champions League Elite. At King Abdullah Sports City, Al Ahli went ahead early against Al Qadsiah through Ivan Toney. The Englishman boasts an exemplary penalty record and showed again how deadly he is from the spot after Firas al-Buraikan was brought down, converting calmly to make it 1-0. That lead was doubled soon after by a more unlikely source as Saudi center-back Mohammed Sulaiman showed striker-like instincts to turn the ball home after Gabri Veiga's corner caused confusion in the Al Qadsiah penalty area. By half-time it was 3-0. Brazilian winger Galeno has impressed since arriving from Porto and his direct running into the area and shot forced ex-Real Madrid defender Nacho to divert the ball into his own net. It was a sensational first-half display by Al Ahli, particularly as Al Qadsiah's defense has been the tightest in the division this season; this was only the third time in 2024-25 that Michel's side has conceded more than two goals in a game. Julián Quiñones 15th goal of a prolific debut campaign in Saudi Arabia gave Al Qadsiah hope just after half-time but just four minutes later another Toney penalty – this time won and scored by the ex-Brentford striker – put the exclamation point on a massive win for Al Ahli. Best of the rest Cristiano Ronaldo moved ahead of Benzema in the race for the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot after scoring the opening goal in Al Nassr's 2-0 win over Al Wehda. Ronaldo rose to head home Angelo Gabriel's right-wing cross for a 17th league goal of the season that puts him above Benzema atop the scoring charts. Al Wehda stayed valiantly in the game but Sadio Mane made sure of the points in Mecca – Ronaldo relinquishing penalty-taking duties in order to let his team-mate snap an eight-game scoreless run late on. Al Ettifaq followed up its magnificent victory over Al Nassr last time out with another against Al Taawoun, winning 1-0 in Dammam. For the second time in as many games it was captain Georginio Wijnaldum who was Al Ettifaq's match-winner – his 78th-minute goal helping the club climb to seventh in the table, continuing a dramatic transformation in fortunes since Steven Gerrard's dismissal as coach in January. Al Fateh claimed a vital 3-1 win against fellow struggler Al Akhdoud to leapfrog its opponent and move out of the Saudi Pro League relegation zone. Al Fateh had – until very recently – looked cut adrift in the Saudi Pro League drop zone having won just twice this season up until February 7, but Portuguese coach Jose Gomes has now overseen three straight victories. The latest one was served up thanks to goals from Djaniny, Sofiane Bendebka and in-form Moroccan Moura Batna, who has now netted five in seven games for Al Fateh. Elsewhere, Al Shabab returned to winning ways as a brace from Cristian Guanca secured a late 2-1 victory away at Al Raed. In the 70th minute, Mehdi Abeid cancelled out Guanca's opener but the Argentina winger, who has been at Al Shabab for almost six years, struck again to hit an 88th-minute winner for Al Shabab, which remains sixth in the table. Al Orobah recorded its third win in four games as it claimed a 2-1 away reverse at Damac. English striker Brad Young took nine games to open his Al Orobah account but now has two in his last three after opening the scoring. The crucial second goal came from January arrival Omar Al Somah, with the veteran Syria striker having hit the ground running since arriving from Al Arabi. This was his fourth in six games since joining Al Orobah, which held on through Meshari al-Nemer's stoppage-time goal to take all three points. Finally, Al Riyadh and Al Fayha battled it out in an attritional 0-0 draw, in which both sides squandered chances to grab the victory. Most notably, French forward Sekou Lega had a second-half effort well saved by Fayha goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
Leaders
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Leaders
Al-Ittihad Roar Past Al-Hilal 4-1 in Historic Saudi Pro League Showdown
Al-Ittihad fans witnessed a remarkable comeback as their team hammered Al-Hilal 4-1 in the 21st week of the Saudi Pro League on Saturday, extending their lead at the top of the standings. Brazilian sensation Marcos Leonardo initially placed Al-Hilal ahead in the 23rd minute. However, Hassan Kadish quickly equalized six minutes later. Then, Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn scored twice, and French star Karim Benzema sealed the victory for the Tigers four minutes before the final whistle. Al-Hilal took an early lead midway through the first half after Joao Cancelo delivered a precise cross from the right flank, with Marcos Leonardo capitalized on the opportunity by scoring with a poacher's goal. Al-Ittihad responded swiftly six minutes later as Moussa Diaby executed a corner kick from the right side with Hassan Kadesh headed the ball into the net, leveling the score for his team. Second Half Action The Jeddah giants continued their momentum when Steve Bergwijn put them ahead just before the break. Karim Benzema passed the ball wide for Diaby who then crossed perfectly for Bergwijn to score after Yassine Bounou blocked his initial attempt. The Dutch star struck again only six minutes after the second half began after N'Golo Kante made a breakthrough down the right wing pulling the ball back for Bergwijn, who completed the goal from close range. Al-Hilal pushed forward but conceded another goal four minutes before the end, however Diaby's corner found Karim Benzema in the left side of the box, with the Frenchman volleys home his 16th league goal this season, tying him with Cristiano Ronaldo atop the individual rankings. This win gives Al-Ittihad a significant seven-point advantage over Al-Hilal and with thirteen games left in the season, the Tigers look poised to maintain their dominance. Up next Al-Ittihad will visit Al-Fateh on March 2, aiming to maintain their momentum, while Al-Hilal host Al-Tai, desperate to revive their faltering campaign. Short link : Post Views: 6
Saudi Gazette
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Aubameyang leads Al-Qadsiah to a stunning victory over defending champions Al-Hilal
Saudi Gazette report DAMMAM — Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang delivered a sensational performance, scoring twice to lead Al-Qadsiah to a valuable 2-1 win over reigning champions Al-Hilal in a thrilling match at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam as part of the 17th round of the Saudi Pro opened the scoring just two minutes into the match, giving Al-Qadsiah an early Al-Hilal fought back through Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo, who equalized in the 50th game seemed headed for a draw until Aubameyang struck again with a dramatic winner in the third minute of stoppage victory secured three crucial points for Al-Qadsiah, lifting their tally to 37 points and reducing the gap with league leaders to just six points. Al-Qadsiah also reclaimed third place in the Al-Hilal, the loss was a missed opportunity to take sole possession of the top spot, especially after Al-Ittihad's defeat to Damac in the same round. Al-Hilal remains tied at the top with 43 points but failed to capitalize on the chance to solidify their lead in the standings.
