Al Raed and Al-Hilal Prepare for Critical Saudi Pro League Showdown

Buraidah, Saudi Arabia – On May 7, 2025, at 5:15 PM UK time, Al Raed will host Al-Hilal at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in a pivotal match in the Saudi Pro League.

Both teams enter the encounter with different objectives. Al Raed sits at the bottom of the table, nine points from safety, while Al-Hilal is six points behind league leaders with just five games left in the season.

A win for Al-Hilal could be crucial in their title chase, bringing them to just three points of the top if Al Ittihad loses to Al-Nassr later in the day. The Blue Waves are looking to bounce back from a challenging week, which saw them eliminated from the AFC Champions League against Al Ahli.

Interim coach will lead Al-Hilal after Jesus departed the club this past weekend amid rumors he might be linked with the Brazil national team. Historically, Al-Hilal has dominated their rivalry, losing only once in their last 36 encounters.

Meanwhile, Al Raed had a fresh hope after securing three points against Al Orubah. However, their defeat to Al Taawoun, losing 4-3 despite a brave comeback from 4-1 down, has left them reeling. A further defeat could nearly seal their fate in the Saudi First Division next season.

The hosts have struggled at home, with no victories since mid-November. They will face an uphill battle against a dominant Al-Hilal side. Al Raed’s coach, whose tactical choices have been under scrutiny after a tough start, hopes to exploit Al-Hilal’s vulnerabilities.

Al Raed will be missing key player due to a long-term injury, while Al-Hilal will assess several players’ fitness as they prepare for this critical clash.

As the stakes rise, both teams are acutely aware of the implications of this match for their season’s ambitions.