Despite the passage of several crucial rounds in the Roshan Professional League and the dramatic shifts in the standings, the overall picture of the championship remains shrouded in mystery and excitement. The final picture regarding the dominance of any particular team or its absolute lead, which would allow observers to definitively declare it the champion of this season, is still unclear. No team has yet managed to achieve a perfect record that would grant it a clear advantage, reflecting the fierce competition and the close levels of skill among the clubs.

Impact of international entitlements and injuries

This fluctuation in results and inconsistency in performance levels can be attributed to a number of logical factors, foremost among them the overlap between international commitments and the domestic league schedule. Players, whether local players called up to the national team or foreign professionals representing their countries, suffer from the pressure of a continuous match schedule. These dual commitments often lead to physical and mental exhaustion, as well as the specter of injuries that haunts star players, negatively impacting the teams' performance when the league resumes and causing them to lose points that may seem easy in theory but are difficult to secure in reality.

Challenges of integration and the transfer market

Adding to these challenges is the thorny issue of player transfers, with recent transfer windows witnessing significant activity and numerous player movements between clubs. While some teams have successfully capitalized quickly on their new signings, others still need more time to fully integrate into their teams' tactical systems. Despite all these circumstances and obstacles, the Roshan League has maintained its unique appeal and has even become more exciting compared to other leagues in the region, confirming the high market and technical value that the Saudi League has achieved on a global scale.

The future of competition: no room for complacency

As the championship enters its most crucial stages, the task will become increasingly difficult and complex, especially for the leading teams who must maintain their positions or strive to climb further up the table. These teams will need to capitalize on any slip-ups by their rivals, whether losses or draws, which are highly likely in the upcoming rounds given the close point standings. The title race is far from over, and anyone who believes it has already been decided is misreading the situation; significant changes are expected, and surprises are possible in every round.

Only the team that works hard and meticulously, carefully planning each match, will be able to secure valuable points. Those who underestimate their opponents, relying on their mid-table or lower rankings, will be the biggest losers in this marathon. Sports fans are in for even more intense and exciting rounds than before, and the current standings are sure to change as the matches progress. Therefore, many scenarios are open until the final whistle of the last league game.

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.