Brazilian Fabio Carille, the new head coach of Damac FC, made an important tactical decision regarding the team's preparation program following their valuable victory in the last round. Carille decided to give the players two days off from group training to allow them to rest and recover physically before beginning the rigorous preparations for their upcoming match against Al-Shabab.

This decision comes at a very sensitive time, as the veteran Brazilian coach seeks to maintain the players' high morale following their thrilling 2-1 victory over Al-Taawoun on Thursday evening in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. This match was Carille's first in charge of Damac, making the win a significant boost for the team's performance in the remaining rounds of the competition.

Damac players are scheduled to return to training after their break to begin technical and tactical preparations for hosting the formidable Al-Shabab team in their match next Friday evening, part of the 23rd round of the league. The coaching staff is aware of the difficulty of the task against Al-Shabab, requiring special mental and physical preparation to ensure a positive result that will boost the team's chances of avoiding relegation.

The upcoming matches are of paramount importance to Damac, given their precarious position in the league standings. The team currently sits in 15th place with only 15 points, a position that places them in the immediate danger zone and on the brink of relegation. Therefore, every point earned under the leadership of Carille will be crucial in their fight to remain among the elite.

Damac fans are placing great faith in Carille's extensive experience in Saudi football, having previously coached major clubs like Al-Ittihad and Al-Wehda, achieving notable successes. This makes him the ideal choice to lift the team out of its current slump. The upcoming match against Al-Shabab will be a true test of the coach's ability to utilize the players' potential and rectify the team's defensive and offensive shortcomings in record time, especially as the league enters its crucial, decisive stages.

Al-Hilal's coaching staff received a significant morale and tactical boost just hours before the highly anticipated match, with official confirmation that their star left-back, Mutaib Al-Harbi, is fit to play against Al-Ettifaq. This confirmation came after the player fully recovered from a recent calf muscle injury, which had cast doubt on his availability for this crucial game.

Al-Harbi participated actively in the Al-Hilal team’s group training session on Thursday evening, after he successfully completed his rehabilitation and treatment program under the supervision of the club’s medical staff, making him an available option for the coach to rely on in the starting lineup or as a winning option on the substitutes’ bench, depending on the technical vision for the match.

Al-Harbi's return is of paramount importance at this crucial juncture in the Saudi Professional League season, as he is a key player for Al-Hilal this season. His impact is evident in the statistics: the left-back has featured in 21 matches for Al-Hilal this season, scoring one goal and providing two assists, accumulating 1118 minutes of playing time, reflecting his significant contribution to both the defensive and offensive aspects of the game.

This match comes amidst fierce competition at the top of the standings, with Al-Hilal entering the game leading the Roshan League table with 50 points. The difficulty lies in the extremely narrow margin separating them from their closest pursuers, as they are only one point ahead of their traditional rivals, Al-Nassr (who have 49 points). This makes a victory against Al-Ettifaq absolutely crucial to maintain their lead and avoid dropping any points that could cost them first place.

On the other hand, Al-Ettifaq is no easy opponent, currently sitting in sixth place in the standings with 35 points. They are striving to improve their position and move closer to the top four, promising a tough and tactical encounter between the two sides. Al-Hilal is scheduled to host Al-Ettifaq at 6:25 PM this Friday, in a match that is highly anticipated by sports fans due to its direct impact on the Saudi League title race, which has garnered global attention.

In a surprising development within the corridors of the leader, the Uruguayan professional in the ranks of Al-Hilal Club, Darwin Nunez , expressed an angry and unexpected reaction following the recent technical and administrative decision to remove his name from the local list of the team, in order to register the Brazilian player Marcos Leonardo in his place.

Nunez was quick to express his dissatisfaction on social media, taking a step that sparked controversy among Al-Hilal fans. He removed his personal photo in an Al-Hilal jersey from his official Instagram account and replaced it with a previous photo of him in his former team Liverpool's jersey celebrating a championship, in a gesture that observers interpreted as a farewell message or an expression of dissatisfaction with his current situation with the Saudi league champions.

Nunez's numbers with Al-Hilal and Inzaghi's stance

This decision came despite Al-Hilal having signed the 26-year-old Uruguayan striker during the previous summer transfer window from Liverpool, with then-manager Inzaghi of his abilities to lead the team's attack. This season, Núñez has played 23 matches for Al-Hilal across all competitions, scoring 7 goals and providing 5 assists, for a total of 1577 minutes of playing time. Some believe these figures were insufficient to secure his place in the squad given the fierce competition for foreign player slots.

The context of the competition and the challenges of the Roshan League

This crucial decision comes at a highly sensitive time in the Saudi Professional League, as the competition heats up in the final stretch. Saudi Arabian Football Federation regulations stipulate a limit on the number of foreign players allowed in local squads, placing significant pressure on coaching staff to select the most prepared and impactful players. This appears to have prompted Inzaghi to favor Brazilian Marcos Leonardo at this critical juncture in the season to bolster the team's attacking prowess.

A decisive confrontation and a battle for the top spot

Meanwhile, Al-Hilal fans eagerly await a crucial match as their team hosts Al-Ettifaq at 6:25 PM this Friday, in the 22nd round of the Roshan League. This match is of paramount importance, as Al-Hilal currently leads the standings with 50 points, just one point ahead of their closest rival and traditional adversary, Al-Nassr, who sit in second place. Al-Ettifaq, on the other hand, occupies sixth place with 35 points. Al-Hilal, through these tactical changes, aims to maintain their lead and continue accumulating points to secure the title.