It has been officially confirmed that French star Karim Benzema, the striker for Al-Hilal's first football team, will miss the highly anticipated match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai of the UAE. The Saudi club will host their Emirati counterparts on Monday evening in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League group stage, a match eagerly awaited by Asian football fans.

The primary reason for this forced absence stems from the Asian Football Confederation's regulations, specifically those concerning player registration and participation in the current edition of the tournament. The rules clearly stipulate that no player is permitted to represent two different clubs during the same stage of the competition (the group stage). Since Benzema had already participated in group stage matches for Al-Ittihad earlier this season before his transfer, he is legally ineligible to play for Al-Hilal in the remaining two matches of this stage.

Benzema's absence represents a temporary setback for the coach's squad, especially given the impressive performance he displayed in his domestic debut. The veteran striker and former Ballon d'Or winner launched his Al-Hilal career in the best possible way, scoring a historic hat-trick against Al-Akhdoud in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. This raised the expectations of Al-Hilal fans, who had hoped to see him lead the attack in the Asian Champions League this round.

In the broader context of the tournament, the AFC Champions League, in its new format, represents the ultimate test for clubs in Asia, witnessing fierce competition among West Asian teams. The match between Al-Hilal and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai holds particular significance, not only for qualification and top spot but also because it is a Gulf derby, always characterized by intense rivalry and high fan turnout. This necessitates that Al-Hilal's coaching staff find suitable attacking alternatives to compensate for the absence of their French star.

Karim Benzema is set to return to bolster Al-Hilal's ranks in the Asian Champions League, starting with the knockout stages (Round of 16), immediately following the conclusion of the group stage, which has only two matches remaining. Saudi and Asian fans eagerly await Benzema's return to continental competition, given his extensive experience in major tournaments and his anticipated impact in tipping the scales in his team's favor during the crucial stages of the tournament, which Al-Hilal is aiming to win.

Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, manager of Al-Hilal club, made an important technical and administrative decision following his team’s sweeping victory against Al-Akhdoud, with a clean six-goal win in the match that brought the two teams together as part of the twenty-first round of the Roshan Professional League competition, which was held at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports Stadium.

Simeone Inzaghi decided to give Al-Hilal players a break from group training on Friday, in order to catch their breath and avoid physical exhaustion, with the team scheduled to resume training on Saturday evening to begin actual preparations for the upcoming anticipated match.

This decision comes as part of Al-Hilal's technical staff's commitment to implementing a muscle recovery policy for the players, especially given the pressure of consecutive matches the team is facing. Al-Hilal succeeded in imposing its absolute control over the course of its last match and winning 6-0, continuing to sit alone at the top of the Saudi Professional League standings, confirming its determination to win the title this season with a balanced offensive and defensive performance.

This short break is of paramount importance as Al Hilal prepares for a crucial continental challenge: facing Shabab Al Ahli Dubai of the UAE in the next round of the AFC Champions League. The highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at the Kingdom Arena next Monday, and it demands a high level of physical and mental readiness from all members of the team.

On the technical level, Al-Hilal is experiencing a state of great stability under the leadership of Inzaghi, as the resounding victory over Al-Akhdoud reflects the team’s powerful attacking force and the coach’s desire to maintain the upward trajectory of performance before the crucial matches in the Asian Championship, which is a strategic goal for the club’s management and its large fan base, especially since the team seeks to confirm its leadership not only locally but also continentally.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised his Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, describing him as "the best striker in the world," in the pre-match press conference ahead of the highly anticipated clash against Liverpool. Despite this high praise, the Spanish coach declined to give a definitive answer as to whether the Norwegian goalscorer would start in the Premier League match scheduled for Sunday.

The Manchester City-Liverpool clash has gained immense importance in recent years, becoming one of the most intense tactical and technical battles in world football, and its outcome often plays a decisive role in determining the Premier League title race. This match comes at a crucial time for both teams, increasing the pressure on Guardiola to select the optimal lineup to secure three points in the heated title race.

On a technical level, Haaland is experiencing a period of inconsistency, having scored only two goals in his last two matches. Guardiola had kept his lethal striker on the bench during last Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle United, which City won 3-1. When the manager brought him on in the 71st minute, the Norwegian failed to replicate his usual brilliance and lacked his decisive touch in front of goal, raising questions about his mental and physical readiness for the upcoming match.

Going back to the start of the season, Haaland had a phenomenal start, scoring 19 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals – a feat that reflects the immense value he has brought to the Sky Blues. It's worth noting that Haaland had already found the net against Liverpool in the first leg, a 3-0 victory for City last November. However, when asked by reporters about his next appearance, Guardiola replied: "I don't know until tomorrow, but all I can say is that Erling is the best, Erling is the best striker in the world.".

In another context, Guardiola addressed his future with the club, denying rumors that this season might be his last. The Spanish coach explained, "I have one year left on my contract, which is the same answer I gave two months ago." The former Barcelona manager signed a two-year contract extension in November 2024, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until June 2027, continuing his trophy-laden career, which has seen him win 18 titles with City, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League title.

The 55-year-old coach didn't miss the opportunity to reiterate his humanitarian stance, again expressing his "pain" for the victims in conflict zones such as Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan. In response to criticism urging him to focus solely on football, Guardiola said: "Honestly, I didn't say anything extraordinary. I don't understand why I'm not allowed to express my feelings just because I'm a coach. I condemn all conflicts around the world," emphasizing his respect for all opinions despite disagreeing with attempts to silence his humanitarian voice.