Al-Hilal's first football team is preparing for a crucial match against Al-Ettifaq in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. All eyes will be on the Kingdom Arena, which will host this highly anticipated encounter, as Al-Hilal aims to continue its winning streak and secure three points, despite the challenges the team faces regarding its starting lineup.

Al-Hilal's coaching staff, led by Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, is facing significant absences that could disrupt their tactical plans for this match. The star player Theo Hernandez has been confirmed out of the squad due to an injury sustained recently, necessitating the search for a suitable replacement in his position. In addition to Hernandez, Marcos Leonardo is also unavailable, this time due to a purely tactical decision by Inzaghi, who opted to exclude him for reasons related to his vision for the match and the playing style he intends to implement against Al-Ettifaq.

On the bright side, Al-Hilal's lineup sees the return of star striker Karim Benzema, who will bolster the team's attack in this crucial match. Benzema's return comes after his forced absence from the last match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the AFC Champions League. Regulations prevented his participation due to his prior commitment to Al-Ittihad in the same competition, thus ruling him out of the Asian fixture. He now returns fully fit and ready for domestic competition.

Al-Hilal enters this match aiming to appease its fans after a goalless draw in their last game against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League. The Al-Ettifaq match is of paramount importance to the Blue team, not only to compensate for the continental draw but also to strengthen their position in the Roshan League standings, where three points are essential given the fierce competition for the title. Inzaghi's squad understands that dropping any points at home in front of their supporters could have negative repercussions in the long league campaign.

Matches between Al-Hilal and Al-Ettifaq are always characterized by intense rivalry and excitement, leading fans to anticipate a high-level tactical contest. Al-Hilal relies on the depth of its squad and the ability of its substitutes to compensate for key absences like Theo Hernandez, while the presence of Karim Benzema provides a significant morale and technical boost to the attack. Supporters hope his contribution will unlock Al-Ettifaq's defense and secure a victory for the home side.

German coach Matthias Jäissle, manager of Al-Ahli's first football team, made a decisive tactical decision by excluding Ricardo Matias from the squad called up for the crucial match against Al-Shabab. This encounter is part of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, a highly anticipated clash to be held at Al-Shabab's stadium, promising a fiercely competitive and exciting encounter.

Reasons for excluding Ricardo Matias and Demiral

Jääsle's decision to exclude Ricardo Matias was based purely on technical considerations related to competition regulations. The coach is limited to selecting only eight foreign players for the official matchday squad, which constantly presents the coaching staff with difficult choices when selecting from among the team's professional stars to ensure tactical balance on the field. Ricardo's absence wasn't limited to this match; Turkish defender Merih Demiral and midfielder Matheus Gonçalves were also confirmed to be unavailable for the Al-Shabab game due to a mix of technical and physical reasons. This forces the German coach to find suitable replacements to compensate for these significant absences in Al-Ahli's lineup.

The importance of the Al-Ahli vs. Al-Shabab match in the league race

The Al-Ahli vs. Al-Shabab match is of paramount importance to the Jeddah-based club, as they seek to extend their winning streak and secure all three points. This determination stems from the team's burning desire to chase down league leaders Al-Hilal and close the points gap, thus guaranteeing a spot in Asian competitions and remaining in contention for the league title until the final rounds. Matches between Al-Ahli and Al-Shabab are always considered classics of Saudi football, characterized by intense rivalry, making a victory a significant morale booster for both players and fans.

The context of the competition in the Roshan Professional League

The Saudi Professional League is experiencing an unprecedented surge in talent this season, characterized by the influx of star players and fierce competition among the top clubs. This intense competition places significant pressure on coaches, including Matthias Jäsle, to manage their benches and foreign player rosters with great skill, especially in crucial matches where small details can dictate the outcome. Al-Ahli fans are eagerly awaiting news on how the team will cope with the absence of the three suspended players and whether the alternative tactical options will be able to unlock Al-Shabab's defense on their home turf in the match scheduled for 8:30 PM tomorrow, Friday.

Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, manager of Al-Hilal's first football team, has finalized his tactical choices in preparation for the upcoming match against Al-Ettifaq, in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. This decision comes at a crucial point in the season, as Al-Hilal aims to maintain its lead at the top of the table and widen the gap with its closest rivals.

Mutaib Al-Harbi compensates for the absence of the French star

According to informed sources within Al-Hilal, coach Inzaghi has definitively decided to start international player Mutaib Al-Harbi at left-back. This decision comes as a replacement for French star Theo Hernandez, who is confirmed to be out of the match due to an injury sustained recently. The coaching staff is counting heavily on Al-Harbi's abilities to fill the void left by Hernandez, especially since the match demands a high level of defensive and offensive balance against a tough opponent like Al-Ettifaq.

The battle for the top spot and the title calculations

Al-Hilal enters this match with its sights set on nothing less than three points, aiming to further solidify its lead in the Roshan Professional League standings this season. This match takes on added importance given the fierce competition from traditional rivals Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, as the Blues seek to widen the points gap and ensure a steady march towards the title. Inzaghi's squad understands that any slip-up at this stage could give their rivals an opportunity to close the gap, something the team is determined to avoid by securing victories in this crucial encounter.

A morale boost from "The Arena Kingdom"

Al-Hilal enters the match with extremely high morale, drawing strength from their recent impressive performances. They secured a resounding victory in their last league match against Al-Akhdoud, winning 6-0. This dominant win, achieved at their home ground, the Kingdom Arena, sent a strong message to all their rivals about the team's attacking prowess and their ability to secure decisive victories – a momentum that coach Inzaghi will be looking to capitalize on in their upcoming match against Al-Ettifaq.

Al-Hilal fans are waiting to see the starting lineup and how the Italian coach will deal with the absences, confirming their confidence in the depth of the squad and the ability of the substitutes, especially Mutaib Al-Harbi, to provide the desired contribution at this important juncture of the league.