Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, manager of Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, emphasized the importance of the upcoming match against UAE's Al-Wahda in the final round of the AFC Champions League group stage. This came during a press conference held by the coach to discuss Al-Hilal's preparations for this continental encounter.

Inzaghi began by emphasizing that while the match was essentially a formality in terms of qualification, with both teams having already secured their place in the next round, it held special significance and considerable technical and psychological importance. He said, "Tomorrow we play a match in the elite tournament, the final stage of the group stage. While both teams have already qualified, it remains an important match for us to maintain our upward trajectory, and we hope to deliver a performance worthy of Al-Hilal's name and its fans.".

Leonardo's position and the policy of recycling

Regarding the expected lineup and potential absences, the Al-Hilal coach indicated that the final picture would become clear after the last training session, clarifying his stance on Leonardo's participation. He added, "The final lineup for the match will be determined after training, and I have many solutions and diverse options within the squad. As for Leonardo, he trains with the group when his condition requires it, and tomorrow he might not be in the squad, as we prefer not to risk any player who is not 100% fit.".

Regarding the strategy of involving substitutes and resting key players, Inzaghi stressed the importance of balance, saying: "The match is important, and we will try to play to win as usual, and we know very well what the match requires of us in terms of effort and focus.".

The importance of the meeting in the context of the AFC Champions League

This match holds special significance beyond just the three points; it comes as part of the new edition of the AFC Champions League, a continental tournament witnessing fierce competition among Asia's elite clubs. Al-Hilal, as one of the top contenders for the title and historically the continent's leading club, aims to send a strong message to its rivals by finishing the group stage in the best possible way. Victories in such matches reinforce a winning mentality among the players and maintain the team's continental ranking, which will positively impact their performance in the crucial knockout stages.

Fruitful cooperation with the Saudi national team

Inzaghi also addressed the visit of the Saudi national team's coaching staff to the club's headquarters, praising this effective communication. He added, "The Saudi national team's coaching staff's visit to the club to observe our players was extremely important, and the meeting was fruitful, as this cooperation benefits both the players and Saudi football in general." This interest reflects a mutual commitment to ensuring the readiness of the international players for upcoming commitments, whether with the club or the national team.

Inzaghi concluded his remarks by emphasizing the defensive and mental aspects, saying: "The high level of concentration from the players in the last matches was excellent, and we must continue in the same manner. Our main objective is not to concede goals, because defensive solidity is the key to victories in major tournaments.".

AS Roma's management has taken a decisive and historic step towards realizing its long-awaited dream of owning its own stadium, having submitted the necessary documents and feasibility studies for the project to the relevant authorities. This paves the way for initiating the process of moving out of the historic Stadio Olimpico. Media reports indicate that the estimated cost of the project will exceed one billion pounds sterling, making it one of the largest sporting projects in the history of Italian and European football.

American leadership and investment vision

According to talkSport, this massive project is being spearheaded by the American Friedkin Group, owners of AS Roma and Everton. The group is building on its recent success in England, where it relocated Everton to its new stadium, Dickinson Hill, ending a 133-year reign at the iconic Goodison Park. The Friedkin Group aims to replicate this success in the Italian capital, Rome, to solidify the city's position as an independent economic and sporting powerhouse.

The end of the Olimpico era and the move towards Petralata

Roma are planning to leave the Stadio Olimpico, an iconic Italian stadium currently owned by the city and shared with their city rivals Lazio. Despite its history and having hosted the 1990 World Cup and the 1960 Olympic Games, the current stadium suffers from a running track that separates fans from the pitch, diminishing the atmosphere compared to modern English and German stadiums. The planned new stadium, located in the strategic Petralata district of Rome, is expected to have a capacity of approximately 62,000, a carefully calculated figure designed to balance a large crowd with an optimal viewing experience, compared to the Olimpico's 70,634 seats.

Sustainable design and economic dimensions

The new stadium's design has been meticulously crafted, prioritizing environmental sustainability and a forward-looking vision to create a facility that not only hosts matches but also reflects the club's history and the passion of its fans, particularly the iconic Curva Sud. The plans are expected to undergo thorough review by city council committees in early 2026 before receiving final approval to begin construction.

The project's importance for the future of Italian football

This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance the club's infrastructure and dramatically increase its commercial resources. Italian clubs generally suffer from lower financial returns compared to their Premier League counterparts, partly due to not owning their own stadiums. With this project, Roma aims to follow in the footsteps of Juventus and Atalanta, acquiring a real estate asset that generates sustainable revenue seven days a week through shops, restaurants, and museums attached to the stadium. If things proceed according to schedule, the next decade could see the opening of a world-class sporting complex that would elevate Roma to the ranks of Europe's elite clubs, a historic transformation combining sporting heritage with commercial development.

The Saudi Professional League continues to cement its position as one of the most exciting and high-scoring leagues in the world. This season has witnessed a remarkable phenomenon: 10 hat-tricks were recorded in just the first 22 rounds. This number reflects more than just goals scored; it's a strong indicator of the attacking prowess and diverse tactical approaches employed by the clubs, intensifying the competition and enhancing the enjoyment of the football for the fans.

Context of the historical development of the Saudi League

This goal-scoring explosion was no coincidence; it's a natural consequence of the qualitative leap Saudi football has witnessed in recent years. Since the launch of the investment and privatization project, and the attraction of some of the world's best players, the league has transformed from a local competition into a global arena teeming with talent. Historically, scoring a hat-trick was a rare occurrence in previous seasons, but with the rising technical quality of both foreign and local players, and the evolution of coaches' tactical approaches towards total attacking play, hat-tricks have become a frequent occurrence, reflecting the technical differences and high individual abilities of the stars.

The golden trio: Benzema, Felix, and Toni

At the forefront of the scene, three international stars stole the spotlight by achieving a "hat trick" twice each, namely:

• Karim Benzema (The Exceptional Phenomenon): The French star had a historic season, scoring a hat-trick in two different jerseys; the first with Al-Ittihad against Al-Kholoud, and the second with Al-Hilal against Al-Akhdoud, proving that he is a rare talent capable of scoring regardless of the circumstances or the jerseys.
• Joao Felix (Al-Nasr Machine): The Portuguese proved to be a winning deal for Al-Nasr, scoring two hat-tricks against Al-Fateh and Al-Taawon, confirming his decisive role in big matches and his ability to compensate for absences and make a difference.
• Ivan Toni (Al-Ahli's sniper): The Englishman confirmed his high quality with Al-Raed, by scoring hat-tricks against Al-Khaleej and Al-Ettifaq, taking advantage of his enormous physical strength and his goal-scoring sense inside the box.

The circle of brilliance widens and the names diversify

The hat-trick celebrations were not limited to top-tier stars only, but the list included other names that contributed to enriching the league, confirming the depth of the squads in various clubs:

• Roger Martinez: Led Al-Taawoun to a resounding victory against Al-Riyadh.
• Carlos Junior: He continued his scoring streak with Al-Shabab against Al-Hazm.
• Julian Kenonis: He excelled with Al-Qadisiyah with a hat-trick against Al-Fayha.
• Joshua King: He made his mark in the Gulf jersey.

Importance and expected impact

The fact that the number of hat-tricks has reached 10 at this point in the season carries profound implications that extend far beyond the pitch. From a technical standpoint, it indicates a higher tempo and more open play, reducing the prevalence of overly defensive formations. From a marketing and media perspective, this goal-scoring spree enhances the league's appeal to viewers worldwide and boosts the value of television broadcasting rights, as fans are always looking for goals and excitement. Furthermore, this competitive environment elevates the level of local players who gain daily exposure to such international experience, which will positively impact the Saudi national team's performance in upcoming international competitions.