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.

British and Spanish press reports have revealed serious and tangible moves by the management of Real Madrid to sign Hungarian star Dominik Szoboszlai, the Liverpool midfielder, as part of the Royal Club’s efforts to restructure its midfield and inject new blood to ensure the creativity and attacking effectiveness that the team has lacked at many points this season.

offer
that would include French star Eduardo Camavinga in a swap deal, along with a cash sum of £30 million (approximately €34.5 million). This approach stems from technical recommendations by Álvaro Arbeloa, who believes Camavinga's market value should be used to finance quality signings, especially given the interest from English clubs in acquiring the French player.

Szoboszlai's stats and Real Madrid's motivations:
Szoboszlai is having a remarkable season with the Reds, contributing to 16 goals (9 goals and 7 assists) in 34 appearances across all competitions, making him an ideal option to bolster Real Madrid's midfield attacking capabilities. The Hungarian player possesses exceptional tactical versatility, excelling as a box-to-box midfielder, playmaker, and even right-back when needed – a quality highly valued by German manager Jürgen Klopp, whose name remains strongly linked to the Real Madrid coaching position next summer.

The strategic context and importance of the deal:
These moves come at a sensitive time for Real Madrid, a transitional phase aimed at maintaining its European and domestic dominance. Historically, the Royal Club has always sought to attract the top stars of the English Premier League, and the Szoboszlai deal is an extension of this policy to compensate for the potential departure or aging of some key players. Signing a player with Szoboszlai's long-range shooting ability and keen vision will give Real Madrid a new tactical dimension that was lacking in tight matches.

The player's situation and his contract with Liverpool
strengthen Real Madrid's position. Szoboszlai's current contract runs until 2027, meaning he will enter next summer with only one year remaining. This puts Liverpool under pressure to sell him to avoid losing him for free later if a renewal agreement isn't reached. Sources indicate that the player has expressed genuine interest in wearing the white shirt, amidst stalled negotiations to extend his stay at Anfield, making next summer a highly unlikely prospect for the Bernabéu offices.