Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, manager of Al-Hilal, has finalized his starting lineup for the highly anticipated match against Al-Ittihad, a top fixture in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League. The Kingdom Arena, Al-Hilal's home ground, will host this fiery encounter, eagerly awaited by Saudi and Arab fans alike.

The importance of El Clásico and the battle for the top spot

The Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ittihad match holds immense strategic importance, transcending the mere three-pointer. It represents the "Saudi Arabian football classic," a fixture that garners widespread global attention, particularly given the Saudi league's attraction of some of the world's biggest stars. This match comes at a crucial juncture in the competition, with Al-Hilal aiming to solidify its dominance and strengthen its position in the standings, while Al-Ittihad hopes to secure a positive result at the home of its traditional rival. Historically, encounters between these two teams are always thrilling and fiercely contested, with even the smallest details often proving decisive in determining the title race.

Inzaghi is betting on a powerful attacking force

On the tactical front, Simone Inzaghi decided to deploy his strongest lineup from the first minute, aiming to settle the match early and avoid any surprises. Chief among these options is relying on French star Karim Benzema to lead the attack, a move designed to capitalize on his vast experience in big matches. The coach will also depend on the midfield solidity of Portuguese Ruben Neves and Serbian Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, along with the dynamism of Nasser Al-Dawsari, to ensure control of the midfield, which is key to victory in such encounters.

The situation of the injured and the final touches

Regarding absences and availability, all eyes are on left-back Theo Hernandez, whose final position in the starting lineup will be determined by the last group training session. The player returned to training in recent hours, increasing his chances of being included in the squad, but the medical and coaching staff prefer to wait until the last minute to ensure he is fully fit.

Al-Hilal's expected lineup for the match against Al-Ittihad

Based on recent training sessions and coach Inzaghi's tactical vision, Al-Hilal's lineup for the match is as follows:

• Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou.
• Defense line: Mutaib Al-Harbi (or Theo Hernandez if fully fit), Kalidou Koulibaly, Hassan Tambakti, Hamad Al-Yami.
• Midfield: Ruben Neves, Sergej Savic, Nasser Al-Dawsari.
• Attack line: Malcolm Philippe, Salem Al-Dawsari, Karim Benzema.

In a historic move marking a major turning point for global football, UEFA has officially approved FIFA's proposal to expand the Club World Cup. Under this agreement, the number of participating clubs will increase to 48 in future editions, reflecting a shared desire to enhance global competitiveness and provide greater opportunities for clubs from different continents to compete on the international stage.

According to a report published by the British newspaper The Guardian, negotiations between the two parties were successful. The report stated: "UEFA agrees to FIFA's plan to increase the number of clubs in the Club World Cup to 48, up from 32." This decision will reshape the landscape of club competitions, bringing it closer in format and size to the FIFA World Cup, which is FIFA's aim to achieve in order to increase the tournament's economic and fan appeal.

Success of the United States version

This strategic decision follows the resounding success of the last edition of the tournament, hosted by the United States. That edition served as the cornerstone for the expanded format, featuring 32 clubs for the first time in the competition's history. The American experience demonstrated the tournament's ability to attract widespread global attention and generate unprecedented marketing for broadcasting and sponsorship rights, encouraging decision-makers at FIFA and UEFA to move forward with further expansion.

Chelsea crowned champions at the expense of Paris Saint-Germain

On a technical level, the last edition witnessed fierce competition, culminating in Chelsea's victory. The Blues secured the title with a resounding win over French giants Paris Saint-Germain. This victory not only confirmed the dominance of European clubs in the tournament but also showcased the high quality of matches in the final stages of the new format, reinforcing the belief in the need to continue and develop this competitive system.

Dimensions of the decision and its impact on global football

The expansion from 32 to 48 teams has significant economic and sporting implications. Economically, FIFA aims to maximize revenue by increasing the number of matches, thereby attracting more sponsors and advertisers. Sportingly, the increased number of slots will allow for greater participation from clubs in Africa, Asia, and South America, reducing the competitive gap between these clubs and their European counterparts.

However, this expansion presents logistical and technical challenges related to the already congested international match calendar, a point of contention between UEFA and FIFA before this agreement was reached. The recent agreement appears to indicate a consensus on how to integrate the expanded tournament without significantly disrupting domestic leagues or player welfare, thus ushering football into a new era of comprehensive globalization.

In a move aimed at protecting its players and upholding the values ​​of sportsmanship, Real Madrid has officially announced that it has submitted "all available evidence" to UEFA as part of the ongoing investigation into the incidents that marred the team's match against Benfica in Lisbon. This decisive step comes after Tuesday's Champions League round of 16 first-leg match, which Real Madrid won 1-0, but which was overshadowed by serious allegations of racism.

The case revolves primarily around a complaint filed by Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, who accused Benfica's Argentinian player, Gianluca Brestiani, of racially abusing him and calling him a "monkey" during the match. Despite the Argentinian player's denial of these accusations via his Instagram account, Real Madrid decided not to remain silent, stating in an official statement: "Our club has cooperated fully with the investigation opened by UEFA following the unacceptable racist incidents that occurred during this match.".

A recurring theme and an ongoing battle against racism

This incident cannot be separated from the broader context of Vinicius Junior's experiences in European stadiums in recent years. The Brazilian star has become a global icon in the fight against racism in football, after enduring a series of abuses and offensive chants in several Spanish and European stadiums. The events in Lisbon bring to mind previous incidents that prompted FIFA and human rights organizations to demand harsher penalties, making Real Madrid's current action not merely a defense of a player in a single match, but part of a broader institutional battle to eradicate this scourge.

Evidence extends beyond the players to the stands

Real Madrid's complaint to UEFA wasn't limited to the altercation between the players; the club's statement also included extensive documentation of fan behavior. Spanish media outlets and social media platforms circulated videos documenting racist actions by a section of the Portuguese team's supporters in the stands, which strengthens the Spanish club's case and places a responsibility on UEFA to enforce stricter regulations.

Broad solidarity and international responsibility

Real Madrid concluded its statement by expressing its deep gratitude "for the support, consensus, and affection shown to our player Vinicius Junior by everyone in the football world." This international solidarity reflects a growing awareness of the dangers of racism and its negative impact on the reputation of the world's most popular sport. UEFA's anticipated decisions in this matter are expected to have a significant impact, not only in terms of disciplinary action against the clubs and players involved, but also as a future deterrent, reaffirming the commitment of sporting institutions to the "No to Racism" motto in both word and deed.