Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad Face Crucial Matches in Tight Saudi Pro League Title Race

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The Saudi Pro League title race heats up on Monday as Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad confront pivotal challenges in round 29. Al-Hilal seeks to diminish the gap with league leaders Al-Ittihad when they take on Al-Shabab at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

Jorge Jesus‘ Al-Hilal squad is buoyed by a commanding 3-0 victory over Al-Khaleej in their previous match. Meanwhile, Al-Shabab enters the game after a goalless draw against Al-Okhdood. Historically, Al-Hilal has performed well against Al-Shabab, winning 19 of their 33 previous league meetings, compared to Al-Shabab’s five victories and nine draws. The two teams’ encounters have seen Al-Hilal score 59 goals, with their largest win being a significant 5-1 in the 2020-21 season.

Jesus has a full roster available, including the skilled Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo. Al-Shabab’s coach Fatih Terim is also bolstered by the return of key players, such as Ukrainian goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan and Belgian captain Yannick Carrasco, who are expected to provide a challenge for Al-Hilal.

Currently, Al-Hilal ranks second in the league standings with 61 points, trailing Al-Ittihad by four points, while Al-Shabab is positioned sixth, with 50 points. This match could significantly impact the title implications.

In parallel, Al-Ittihad will host Al-Ettifaq at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah later in the evening, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. After enduring an unexpected 2-0 setback against Al-Fateh in the last round, Laurent Blanc’s Al-Ittihad is eager to regain their winning momentum and protect their first-place standing.

Al-Ettifaq, riding the wave of a recent 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh, aims to shake up the title race against a historically dominant Al-Ittihad, who has won 15 of the previous 29 matchups, while Al-Ettifaq has claimed seven wins and drawn seven times. In total, Ittihad has scored 53 goals in their face-offs, with their most emphatic win being a 5-2 victory in the 2013-14 season.

With only five matches left in the season, every point now holds significant weight. Al-Ittihad holds the summit of the league table with 65 points, while Al-Ettifaq sits seventh with 40 points. The outcomes of these matches could sway the direction of the league trophy.