Al-Hilal's first football team continued to deliver impressive performances, particularly defensively, recording their longest run of matches without conceding a goal since Italian coach Simone Inzaghi took over the reins. The "Leaders" have managed to keep a clean sheet in four consecutive matches across all competitions, reflecting a state of tactical maturity and an ideal balance between attacking prowess and strict defensive discipline.

Details of the recent victory and the unbeaten streak

Al-Hilal extended their winning streak with a valuable and well-deserved 2-0 victory over Al-Ettifaq in their match on Friday evening at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, as part of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. This match was more than just three points added to the team's tally; it was practical proof of the defensive solidity instilled by Inzaghi, as the team managed to completely neutralize the opponent's threat while capitalizing on their attacking opportunities with high efficiency.

Returning to the details of this remarkable defensive run, its hallmarks began with a tactical goalless draw against Al-Ahli in the 20th round, followed by a resounding 6-0 victory over Al-Akhdoud in the 21st round. This demonstrated the team's ability to dismantle opponents without neglecting their defensive duties. This brilliance extended to the continental stage, where the team kept a clean sheet in their goalless draw against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League (West Group).

The Italian school imprint and Inzaghi influence

This run marks Al-Hilal's longest clean sheet streak since Simone Inzaghi's arrival last summer. This remarkable improvement is attributed to the tactical imprint of the Italian school of football, historically renowned for its disciplined defensive organization. Inzaghi quickly addressed the defensive vulnerabilities, implementing a style based on proper positioning, high pressing, and rapid counter-attacks, making it a formidable challenge for opponents both domestically and continentally.

The impact of performance on Al-Hilal's chances in championships

This defensive development is of paramount importance at this stage of the season, as the competition intensifies in the final stretch of the Saudi Professional League and the decisive stages of the AFC Champions League. In modern football, championships are built on strong defenses, a fact well understood by Al-Hilal. Maintaining this defensive solidity sends a clear warning to all rivals, confirming that Al-Hilal, under Inzaghi's leadership, has reached a level of technical perfection that qualifies them to compete strongly for all available titles, supported by their vast fan base and their stadium, which has become an impregnable fortress.

In statements that sparked widespread controversy in Saudi sports circles, former Al-Hilal legend Sami Al-Jaber launched a scathing attack and explicit technical criticism of the team's coach, Italian Simone Inzaghi, despite the team achieving a valuable 2-0 victory over Al-Ettifaq in the twenty-second round of the Saudi Professional League.

The match confirmed Al-Hilal's numerical dominance, with Mohammed Kanno opening the scoring early in the 13th minute, before star Salem Al-Dawsari added the second goal in the 31st minute. With this victory, "Al-Za'eem" strengthened its grip on the top spot with 53 points, widening the gap in the title race, while Al-Ettifaq's tally remained at 34 points. However, these numbers were not enough to convince Al-Jaber of the overall technical performance.

Lack of enjoyment and attacking identity

Speaking to the “Our Club” program, Al-Jaber stressed that winning and collecting the three points is vital in light of the fierce competition with the traditional rival Al-Nasr and Al-Ahli club, but he clearly pointed out that Al-Ettifaq coach, Saad Al-Shehri, succeeded in embarrassing Al-Hilal tactically, especially in the first half, which revealed some gaps in Inzaghi’s system.

Al-Jaber praised a specific aspect of the Italian coach's work: the noticeable improvement in utilizing set pieces with world-class players like Ruben Neves and Malcom, considering it a strength. However, he added that Al-Hilal lacks the element of "entertainment" in their football that the club's fans have come to expect. He explained that the team suffers from a lack of attacking variety and innovative solutions from open play, compared to what rivals like Al-Ahli have been offering recently.

Warnings for the future and a history of aspirations

Sami Al-Jaber's statements carry particular weight given his historical stature as one of the most prominent figures in Saudi and Al-Hilal football. His words reflect the aspirations of the Al-Hilal fans, who are not satisfied with mere victories but always seek performances that translate into results. Al-Jaber warned that relying solely on individual brilliance or set pieces could put Al-Hilal in a difficult position in the future when facing top teams that possess tactical tools capable of anticipating Inzaghi's style and closing down attacking options.

Al-Jaber concluded his analysis by pointing out that Al-Ettifaq's reaching Al-Hilal's goal on more than one occasion and threatening the net with clear chances, despite the loss, is a worrying indicator that reflects a weakness in the interconnected defensive and offensive system, which necessitates an urgent technical review before entering the decisive stages of the league, where there is no room for wasting points or delivering lackluster performances that could cost the team the title.

Veteran French star Karim Benzema, striker for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal club, sent a special message of support and appreciation to the “Leader” fans, following his recent participation with the team in the Roshan Professional League competitions, emphasizing the depth of the relationship that has begun to form between him and the blue stands since his arrival.

Benzema posted a picture of himself on the pitch via his official account on the social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter), and attached to it a brief but significant comment saying: “Thank you.. Keep supporting us,” in a direct message to the Al-Hilal fans who strongly supported him during the past matches, asking them to continue supporting him to achieve the team’s goals this season.

A fiery start and a historic transition

Benzema had joined Al-Hilal during the last winter transfer window, coming from the traditional rival Al-Ittihad Club, in a deal that resonated widely in sports circles, to begin a new chapter in his professional career within the Kingdom with the Blue Force.

On the technical side, the French striker has so far participated in two matches wearing the Al-Hilal jersey. He made a perfect and exceptional debut in his first appearance against Al-Akhdoud in the 21st round, scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist, proving his readiness to lead the team's attack. In his second appearance, he played a strong match against Al-Ettifaq in the 22nd round on Friday evening. Although he did not contribute to scoring or assisting in that match, his movements posed a clear threat.

Benzema's impact and the status of the Roshan League

The transfer of a player of Karim Benzema's caliber, a former Ballon d'Or winner, between Saudi Arabia's two football giants (Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal) underscores the high market value and technical prowess that the Saudi Professional League has reached. This activity in the transfer market reflects the tremendous rise in competitiveness, as clubs strive to bolster their squads with the world's best players to ensure they can compete for domestic and continental titles.

Al-Hilal fans are counting heavily on Benzema's extensive experience in European and international football to decide crucial matches, especially given the fierce competition for the league title. His recent message is seen as a renewed commitment to the fans to give his all in the upcoming rounds, as the French star understands that playing for Al-Hilal always demands striving for championships and nothing less.