Al-Hilal's first football team is preparing for a crucial match against Al-Ettifaq in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. All eyes will be on the Kingdom Arena, which will host this highly anticipated encounter, as Al-Hilal aims to continue its winning streak and secure three points, despite the challenges the team faces regarding its starting lineup.

Al-Hilal's coaching staff, led by Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, is facing significant absences that could disrupt their tactical plans for this match. The star player Theo Hernandez has been confirmed out of the squad due to an injury sustained recently, necessitating the search for a suitable replacement in his position. In addition to Hernandez, Marcos Leonardo is also unavailable, this time due to a purely tactical decision by Inzaghi, who opted to exclude him for reasons related to his vision for the match and the playing style he intends to implement against Al-Ettifaq.

On the bright side, Al-Hilal's lineup sees the return of star striker Karim Benzema, who will bolster the team's attack in this crucial match. Benzema's return comes after his forced absence from the last match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the AFC Champions League. Regulations prevented his participation due to his prior commitment to Al-Ittihad in the same competition, thus ruling him out of the Asian fixture. He now returns fully fit and ready for domestic competition.

Al-Hilal enters this match aiming to appease its fans after a goalless draw in their last game against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League. The Al-Ettifaq match is of paramount importance to the Blue team, not only to compensate for the continental draw but also to strengthen their position in the Roshan League standings, where three points are essential given the fierce competition for the title. Inzaghi's squad understands that dropping any points at home in front of their supporters could have negative repercussions in the long league campaign.

Matches between Al-Hilal and Al-Ettifaq are always characterized by intense rivalry and excitement, leading fans to anticipate a high-level tactical contest. Al-Hilal relies on the depth of its squad and the ability of its substitutes to compensate for key absences like Theo Hernandez, while the presence of Karim Benzema provides a significant morale and technical boost to the attack. Supporters hope his contribution will unlock Al-Ettifaq's defense and secure a victory for the home side.

The Damac FC first team successfully returned to winning ways, bringing an end to a difficult 72-day period of negative results. This strong comeback came after a valuable and well-deserved 2-1 victory against their hosts, Al-Taawoun, in a fiery encounter at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Buraidah, as part of the Saudi Professional League.

A perfect start for Brazilian Fabio Carille

The match marked the debut of veteran Brazilian coach Fabio Carille at the helm of Damac FC. Carille, an expert on Saudi football, proved his ability to make an immediate impact, reorganizing the team's tactics and instilling a fighting spirit in the players, securing a perfect record in his first test. This victory reinforces the confidence in the management's decision to appoint him to salvage the team's season and get back on track after a series of setbacks.

Details of the suffering before returning

Damac's path to this victory was far from easy; it came after a difficult period and a long series of setbacks that placed the team under immense psychological and fan pressure. Prior to this match, the "Knights of the South" had gone nine consecutive league games without a win, managing only three draws and suffering six defeats, leading to a worrying decline in the team's standings and sparking concern among its supporters.

The end of the Evangelista era and a course correction

Damac FC's last victory came on December 30, 2025, when they defeated Al-Akhdoud 1-0 under the guidance of former Portuguese coach Armando Evangelista. However, things took a turn for the worse after that, as the Portuguese coach failed to maintain the team's stability and couldn't secure a win in recent matches. This prompted the club's management to dismiss him in search of a positive turnaround, which proved successful with the arrival of Carille.

The importance and impact of winning

This victory is doubly important as it came away from home against a tough opponent like Al-Taawoun, who are considered one of the strongest teams on their home ground and in front of their fans. This win represents a pivotal turning point for Damac, giving the players a tremendous morale boost to continue their league campaign with renewed vigor and moving the team a significant step away from the relegation zone. It also confirms that the coaching change was a pressing necessity to restore the team's prestige and identity on the pitch.

In a surprising turn of events within Al-Ahli Saudi FC, German coach Matthias Jäissle decided to exclude two of the team's foreign players from the squad called up for the upcoming match against Al-Shabab FC in the Saudi Professional League. This decision, made just hours before kickoff, has sparked widespread questions among fans and sports analysts regarding the technical or medical reasons that prompted the coach to take this bold step at such a crucial time.

Details of elimination and technical preparations

Sources close to Al-Ahli confirmed that coach Jacek's decision was based on a thorough technical and physical assessment during the team's final training sessions. The German coach aims to instill tactical discipline and select the most prepared players to execute the appropriate game plan against a team of Al-Shabab's caliber, known for its strong defensive and offensive organization. This decision reflects the coaching staff's desire to rely on players capable of making a significant contribution throughout the ninety minutes, prioritizing technical readiness over big names.

The importance of the Al-Ahli vs. Al-Shabab classic

The Al-Ahli vs. Al-Shabab match holds immense importance, transcending the mere three-pointer. It is considered one of the classic Saudi Arabian football derbies, attracting massive local and Arab media and fan attention. Historically, encounters between "Al-Raqui" (the Royal) and "Al-Laith" (the Lion) have been characterized by fierce competition, excitement, and a high number of goals, with each side striving to assert its dominance and prove its worthiness to compete for top positions in the league standings. This match comes at a time when both teams desperately need a victory to bolster their league position and appease their fans, thus intensifying the pressure on the coaches and players.

The expected impact of the decision on the course of the meeting

The absence of the two foreign players is expected to significantly impact Al Ahli's starting lineup, forcing coach Yassla to make tactical adjustments to compensate for the missing players. This exclusion could open the door for local players or substitutes to prove themselves in a high-profile match. Technical analysts believe such decisive decisions can be a double-edged sword; they could either motivate the remaining players to give their all to fill the gaps, or negatively affect the team's overall cohesion if the substitutes are not managed effectively.

In conclusion, sports fans are eager to see how Matthias Jiesle will handle the course of the match in light of these absences, and whether he will succeed in winning the tactical bet against his counterpart at Al-Shabab Club, in a football night that promises a lot of excitement and competitiveness in the Saudi football scene.