Al-Hilal's first-team training session on Sunday was marked by the absence of Moroccan international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, as the team prepares for a crucial match in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League group stage. The training session took place at the Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Stadium in the UAE, in anticipation of the upcoming game.

Yassine Bounou’s absence from the training session and from the squad for the upcoming match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai was due to a technical decision aimed at resting him, as the technical staff, led by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, seeks to implement a policy of rotating players to avoid physical exhaustion, especially in light of the succession of matches and the fierce competition that “Al-Zaeem” is engaged in on all local and continental fronts.

With the absence of the "Atlas Lion," it is widely expected that goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie will be the first choice to protect Al-Hilal's goal during their Asian Champions League match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai. This match presents a crucial opportunity for Al-Rubaie to demonstrate his technical and physical readiness, and to prove the ability of Al-Hilal's bench to compensate for the absence of key players during critical moments.

Al-Hilal enters this match with very high morale, buoyed by its recent positive results. The team achieved a resounding victory in its last match in the Roshan Professional League, defeating Al-Akhdoud 6-0 at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Stadium. This impressive win reflects the team's formidable attacking prowess, but the Asian challenge also demands defensive solidity and a stellar goalkeeping performance.

The AFC Champions League group stage is of paramount importance to Al Hilal, who always strive to extend their record as the most decorated club in Asia. The group stage is crucial for securing a strong finish, which facilitates their progress in the knockout rounds. Therefore, the decision to rest Bono is part of a strategic plan to keep the team's stars fresh for the more decisive stages of the season.

It's worth noting that Yassine Bounou has been a cornerstone of Al-Hilal's lineup since joining, contributing significantly to numerous victories thanks to his crucial saves and extensive international experience. However, the coaching staff's confidence in backup goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie reflects the depth of Al-Hilal's squad and its ability to adapt to various circumstances and absences.

Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa, manager of Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai, stressed the difficulty of the upcoming match that will bring his team together with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, as part of the seventh round of the group stage of the AFC Champions League, praising the enormous technical capabilities of the opponent.

In the pre-match press conference, Souza made statements that reflected his great respect for the opponent, saying: "We are about to face a team the size of Al-Hilal, which is led by a world-class coach like Simone Inzaghi. He is a coach who has proven his competence in Italy and achieved everything that can be achieved there, in addition to reaching the Champions League final twice, which reflects his winning mentality and his great experience in big matches.".

Souza added, referring to Al-Hilal's achievements under Inzaghi's leadership: "This coach led Al-Hilal to a historic victory over Manchester City in the Club World Cup, and he currently sits atop the Saudi League and the Asian Champions League standings, making the task ahead a significant challenge for us." He concluded by emphasizing the club's technical and administrative stability and its continued pursuit of further success and the Asian Champions League title.

The importance of confronting the Asian elite

This match holds special significance as it is part of the newly revamped AFC Champions League, which brings together the strongest clubs in Asia. Matches between Saudi Arabia and the UAE are always considered a "Gulf derby," characterized by intense rivalry and passionate fan support, with each team striving to assert its regional dominance and secure a place in the knockout stages.

artistic and historical context

Sousa's statements come at a time when Al-Hilal is enjoying a period of great technical stability, with the Saudi team becoming a perennial favorite to win the continental title thanks to its star-studded squad and accumulated experience in international tournaments. Meanwhile, Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai is looking to prove its worth among the continent's elite, capitalizing on the expertise of its Portuguese coach, Paulo Sousa, who boasts a distinguished coaching career in European leagues. This sets the stage for a tactical clash between the Italian and Portuguese schools of football on Asian soil.

This match is a pivotal moment in both teams' journey towards the title, as winning it not only means securing the three points, but also sends a strong message to the other competitors about their readiness to compete for the most prestigious cup in the continent.

The Italian coach of Al-Hilal, Simone Inzaghi, made an important technical and administrative decision before the anticipated match against the Emirati team Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai, as he decided to exclude three of the team’s most prominent stars, namely the team’s captain Salem Al-Dawsari, the solid defender Kalidou Koulibaly, and the striker Marcos Leonardo, from the list that left to compete in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League.

Sources close to Al-Hilal revealed that Inzaghi's decision to exclude Salem Al-Dawsari and Kalidou Koulibaly is part of a rotation policy aimed at resting key players, especially given the team's demanding schedule of consecutive matches both domestically and continentally. The Italian coach aims to maintain the physical fitness of his mainstays and prevent muscle fatigue before the crucial stages of the season. As for the exclusion of Marcos Leonardo, the decision was purely technical, deemed by the coaching staff to be appropriate for the nature of the match and the planned tactics.

Al-Hilal is set to face Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai away at 7:00 PM tomorrow, Monday, in a match where the Blues will seek to reaffirm their continental dominance. This match is part of the seventh round of the group stage of the tournament under its new format, and Al-Hilal enters the game in a very comfortable position in the standings.

Al-Hilal currently sits atop its group with a perfect record of 18 points, four points ahead of its closest rival, Iran's Tractor Sazi, which occupies second place. This significant points advantage has given coach Inzaghi the freedom to make changes to the lineup and give other players the opportunity to prove themselves, reflecting the depth of the Saudi team's squad and its ability to compete with a diverse roster.

On the other hand, Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai enters the match in fifth place with 10 points, making this game crucial for the Emirati team as they seek to improve their position in the standings and secure qualification for the knockout stages. Matches between Saudi and Emirati clubs are always highly competitive and exciting, given their long history of rivalry in Asian championships. Al-Hilal consistently strives to reaffirm its dominance in Asia, while Shabab Al-Ahli aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to achieve a positive result against the title favorites.

Inzaghi’s decision reflects the great confidence in Al-Hilal’s bench, as the Al-Hilal system has proven in recent years that it does not depend on one player, but rather works as an integrated group capable of compensating for any absence, which makes Al-Hilal fans reassured despite the absence of names of the magnitude of Salem and Coulibaly from this Asian encounter.