In the world of football, hatred doesn't arise from nothing, and controversy doesn't erupt without cause. Often, consistent success is the initial spark, and unwavering dominance is the fuel that keeps it burning. This explains the recurring question in Saudi and Arab sporting circles: Why don't they like you, Al-Hilal?

The answer lies in the fact that you didn't wait long to arrive, nor did you go through all the stumbling blocks that others did. Instead, you took the shortcut with the steadfastness of a seasoned champion and leaped early towards the podium. Al-Hilal, or "The Leader" as its fans affectionately call it, represents a unique case in Asian sports. It is the club with the most continental and domestic titles, creating a massive numerical and psychological gap between it and its rivals, making catching up a near-impossible task.

Al-Hilal was not a fleeting project, nor a temporary phenomenon in the annals of competition. Rather, it was born great, established by a clear royal decree of sport since its founding by Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Saeed – may God have mercy on him – based on planning, institutional work, and a respect for the meaning of professionalism. At a time when many clubs were run on knee-jerk reactions and fleeting fan emotions, Al-Hilal calmly built its system and established a culture of winning long before it became a trend in sporting circles.

Al-Hilal experienced true professionalism before anyone else, understanding that championships aren't won solely on the pitch, but begin in the offices through strategic, administrative, and financial planning to achieve desired goals. This administrative stability enabled them to make modern decisions that kept pace with innovation and development, making them a source of pride for Saudi football on the international stage and a model to be emulated in how to manage sports institutions.

Al-Hilal never sought championships to prove its existence; rather, it sought glory, and found glory pursuing it, drawing its presence and value from its brilliance. This is why some dislike it; because it disrupted comparisons and shattered the notion of a "cycle" where some wait for the giants to fall so they can rise. Al-Hilal made consistency the rule, not the exception, thus crushing the hopes of its rivals who wished to see its performance decline for extended periods.

They dislike him because he made winning a habit, the final an expected milestone, and the podium a recurring scene in his career. In an era where sports projects change rapidly, and ambitions shift with changing economic or administrative circumstances, Al-Hilal has remained steadfast in one philosophy: to always be at the top. This consistency is what instills a sense of helplessness in his rivals, as they realize that competing with Al-Hilal requires double the effort and years of building.

Al-Hilal isn't measured solely by the number of its titles, despite their abundance and variety across the league, the King's Cup, and the AFC Champions League. Rather, it's measured by its winning culture, its clear competitive identity, and its constant ability to redefine success at every stage. This is why they don't like you, Al-Hilal; because you are a mirror that exposes the difference, reminding everyone that the path to gold isn't paved with catchy slogans or media hype, but with hard work, perseverance, and a professional mindset.

Only the great are disputed, only the truly great have their successes fought against, and only Al-Hilal makes history, then grows accustomed to living it as if it were their everyday life. A final whisper: And if you glimpse Suhail in the southern sky... embrace the symbols of love.

Saudi and Arab football fans are turning their attention to the Kingdom's stadiums, as Al-Midan Al-Riyadi reviews the schedule of matches for the 23rd round of the Saudi Roshan League for the current 2025-2026 season, which includes heavyweight clashes that may shape the competition for the title or the struggle to avoid relegation.

The curtain fell on Saturday on the 22nd round of the Saudi Roshan League, and the teams immediately began preparing for the next round, which will start on Thursday, February 19, amid great public anticipation due to the close points standings and the sensitivity of the current stage of the league.

Details of the match schedule for round 23 of the Roshan League

The matches of this round were spread over three days, to ensure viewers a rich football feast, and the scheduled times were as follows:

Thursday, February 19:
The round kicks off with three exciting matches at 10:00 PM:
– Al-Ahli vs. Al-Najma
– Al-Ettifaq vs. Al-Fateh (Mini Eastern Province Derby)
– Al-Kholoud vs. Al-Riyadh

Friday, February 20:
The competition continues with three more matches at the same time (10:00 PM):
– Al-Akhdoud vs Al-Qadisiyah
– Al-Taawoun vs Al-Fayha (Qassim and Al-Majma'ah derby)
– Damac vs Al-Shabab

Saturday, February 21 (Round High):
The round concludes with the strongest and most exciting matches at 10:00 PM:
– Al-Hilal vs Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabian Clasico)
– Al-Nassr vs Al-Hazm
– Al-Khaleej vs Neom

Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ittihad Classic: A Clash of the Titans

This round takes on exceptional importance with the historic "Clásico" between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad on Saturday, February 21st. This match is considered one of the most important sporting events not only locally, but also regionally and continentally, given the rich history shared by the two clubs and the caliber of international stars on both teams. Matches between these two giants are always decisive in determining the league title, characterized by intense rivalry and massive crowds filling the stands.

The evolution of the Roshan League and the emergence of new powers

What's striking about the 2025-2026 season schedule is the significant diversity and emergence of strong new clubs like NEOM, Al-Najma, and Al-Kholoud. This reflects the tremendous development in the infrastructure of Saudi clubs and the expansion of competition to include new regions within the Kingdom. The presence of a team like NEOM facing Al-Khaleej reflects the future vision for Saudi sports, which aims to position the league among the top five leagues in the world by raising the market and technical value of all participating clubs, not just the four major clubs.

This great momentum and succession of matches puts the technical staff in front of physical and technical challenges to maintain the players’ fitness, especially as the season enters its crucial stages where there is no room for compromise.

The coaching staff of Al-Ittihad's first football team, led by veteran Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição , made an important technical and physical decision to give the players a day off from group training on Saturday evening. This decision comes after the players' strenuous efforts, culminating in a valuable 2-1 victory against Al-Fayha on Friday evening, in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League.

Al-Ittihad are scheduled to resume their on-field preparations on Sunday evening, with coach Conceição focusing on the upcoming and challenging match against Qatari side Al-Sadd in the AFC Champions League . The coaching staff aim to use the day off to allow the players to recover and avoid muscle fatigue due to the demanding schedule of matches in both domestic and continental competitions, ensuring the squad is in peak condition before their departure.

Date of the Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Sadd match and group standings

Al-Ittihad will be a formidable guest for Al-Sadd in the Qatari capital, Doha, at 7:00 PM next Tuesday. This match will conclude the league stage of the continental championship under its new "Elite" format, with all eyes on this exciting Gulf derby between two established footballing schools.

Al-Ittihad enters the match in fifth place in the West Zone standings with 12 points, accumulated from a series of positive results that secured their place among the top teams. Al-Sadd, meanwhile, sits in eighth place with 8 points. The match is of paramount importance not only for qualification but also for improving their final standings, which will impact the draw for the knockout stages and potentially result in facing lower-ranked opponents in the later rounds.

The importance of the tournament and the history of the continental federation

This encounter comes as part of the inaugural AFC Champions League , a tournament created by the Asian Football Confederation to elevate the level of competition among the continent's strongest clubs. Al-Ittihad boasts a rich history in this competition, having won the continental title twice consecutively in 2004 and 2005. The current generation, under the leadership of Conceição, aims to recapture continental glory and bring the trophy back to the club's Jeddah trophy cabinet.

Matches between Saudi and Qatari clubs always have a special character of competitiveness and public excitement, making next Tuesday’s match the focus of attention for Asian football fans, as Al-Ittihad aspires to confirm its technical superiority and continue its strong performances this season on all levels.