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.

The Damac FC first team successfully returned to winning ways, bringing an end to a difficult 72-day period of negative results. This strong comeback came after a valuable and well-deserved 2-1 victory against their hosts, Al-Taawoun, in a fiery encounter at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Buraidah, as part of the Saudi Professional League.

A perfect start for Brazilian Fabio Carille

The match marked the debut of veteran Brazilian coach Fabio Carille at the helm of Damac FC. Carille, an expert on Saudi football, proved his ability to make an immediate impact, reorganizing the team's tactics and instilling a fighting spirit in the players, securing a perfect record in his first test. This victory reinforces the confidence in the management's decision to appoint him to salvage the team's season and get back on track after a series of setbacks.

Details of the suffering before returning

Damac's path to this victory was far from easy; it came after a difficult period and a long series of setbacks that placed the team under immense psychological and fan pressure. Prior to this match, the "Knights of the South" had gone nine consecutive league games without a win, managing only three draws and suffering six defeats, leading to a worrying decline in the team's standings and sparking concern among its supporters.

The end of the Evangelista era and a course correction

Damac FC's last victory came on December 30, 2025, when they defeated Al-Akhdoud 1-0 under the guidance of former Portuguese coach Armando Evangelista. However, things took a turn for the worse after that, as the Portuguese coach failed to maintain the team's stability and couldn't secure a win in recent matches. This prompted the club's management to dismiss him in search of a positive turnaround, which proved successful with the arrival of Carille.

The importance and impact of winning

This victory is doubly important as it came away from home against a tough opponent like Al-Taawoun, who are considered one of the strongest teams on their home ground and in front of their fans. This win represents a pivotal turning point for Damac, giving the players a tremendous morale boost to continue their league campaign with renewed vigor and moving the team a significant step away from the relegation zone. It also confirms that the coaching change was a pressing necessity to restore the team's prestige and identity on the pitch.