Al-Hilalvs.Al-Nassr

Al-Za'eem will be looking to make it four wins on the bounce this week, while Al-Alami are aiming to extend their unbeaten run to five games with three points.

Match preview

Prior to the international break, Jorge Jesus's Al-Hilal sandwiched an emphatic 4-0 Champions League triumph over Pakhtakor between two 2-0 league wins against Al Faya and - most recently - Al Taawoun.

In that triumph over Sukkari Al-Qassim, Mohamed Kanno and Marcos Leonardo netted either side of the interval to give Al-Za'eem all three points, and it would be fair to say that the day's visitors thoroughly dominated given that they generated eight times as many efforts on goal as their opponents.

Alongside those victories, Jesus's men have now recorded three consecutive clean sheets across all competitions ahead of this week's crucial clash, and their six domestic points have also kept them comfortably second in the table, where they are six clear of their third-placed opponents.

Friday's hosts' will be confident of maintaining that cushion considering that they have lost just one game at the Kingdom Arena since 2023, though that loss did come against Al-Ahli in their most recent home fixture back on February 28.

Should Al-Hilal manage to secure their 19th win of the league season in such a vital clash, then they could find themselves nine points clear of third place, and their spot in the 2025-26 edition of the AFC Champions League Elite would be all but confirmed.

Meanwhile, Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr produced an impressive run of fight straight wins in the Pro League between late January and mid-February but they have stumbled in recent weeks, dropping eight points in their last five league games.

Most recently, Al-Alami beat Al-Kholood 3-1 on March 14, and despite Nawaf Boushal being sent off, star trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Jhon Duran were all on the scoresheet to seize the victory.

Those three points left Pioli's side third in the table, six points behind this week's opponents and level on 51 with Al-Qadisah in the race for Champions League football next term.

With ground to make up on Al-Hilal, Friday's away game could be vital for their continental hopes, but having won just one of their last four on the road across all competitions, the visitors will have to channel their early-campaign away form if they are to take all three points.

A hard-fought victory would take Al-Nassr to within one win of the Champions League Elite places, though defeat will give fourth-placed Al-Qadisah the chance to take their Champions League 2 spot should they add to their own total.

Al-Hilal Saudi Pro League form:

D

L

W

L

W

W

Al-Hilal form (all competitions):

W

L

L

W

W

W

Al-Nassr Saudi Pro League form:

W

L

W

L

D

W

Al-Nassr form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

W

W

Team News

Al-HIlal's have been impressive defensively in recent weeks, so expect Kalidou Koulibaly and Hassan Al Tambakti to start at the heart of Jesus's defence, with Hamad Al Yami and Renan Lodi at full-back.

At the base of midfield, Ruben Neves should be joined by Mohamed Kanno, who will be looking to build on his goalscoring performance last time out.

Up top, striker Marcos Leonardo will be supported by Malcolm from a hybrid attacking midfield position, while Kaio Cesar and Salem Al-Dawsari provide width.

As for Al-Nassr, they will be without right-back Nawaf Boushal after his dismissal against Al-Kholood, so Mohamed Simakan could shift across to full-back with Mohammed Al-Fatil joining the backline at centre-half.

Further forward, wingers Angelo and Sadio Mane will be aiming to assist the strike partnership of Jhon Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo as they try to close the gap to second place on Friday.

Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:

Bono; Yami, Tambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi; Neves, Kanno; Cesar, Malcolm, Al-Dawsari; Leonardo

Al-Nassr possible starting lineup:

Bento; Simakan, Lajami, Al-Fatil, Alnajdi; Angelo, Al-Hassan, Brozovic, Mane; Duran, Ronaldo

We say: Al-Hilal 2-1 Al-Nassr

With so much at stake this week, Al-Nassr will be desperate to claw at their opponents' six-point cushion, so expect a close-fought contest.

Written by

Anthony Nolan

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