The Al-Hilal vs Al-Ittihad match, scheduled for tonight at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, ignites the top fixture of the 19th round of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Professional League. This traditional rivalry between the giants of Saudi football carries different dimensions this season, as Al-Hilal leads the standings with 45 points, while Al-Ittihad occupies third place with 37 points.
In his pre-match statements, Ramon Diaz, Al-Hilal’s coach, said: “We highly respect Al-Ittihad, but our focus is on achieving victory and maintaining our lead. The players are ready for this important encounter.” On the other hand, Nuno Santo, Al-Ittihad’s coach, confirmed that his team will enter the match with great ambition: “We have the capabilities to achieve a positive result. We know the difficulty of the task, but we are determined to return with the three points.”
Historically, the two teams have met in 92 official matches, with Al-Hilal winning 41 times compared to 25 for Al-Ittihad, and 26 draws. Al-Hilal scored 137 goals against Al-Ittihad, while the latter scored 98 goals against Al-Hilal.
The last five encounters between the teams:
– October 14, 2023: Al-Hilal 3-1 Al-Ittihad (King’s Cup)
– August 27, 2023: Al-Hilal 2-1 Al-Ittihad (League)
– May 7, 2023: Al-Ittihad 3-1 Al-Hilal (League)
– March 21, 2023: Al-Hilal 2-1 Al-Ittihad (King’s Cup)
– November 6, 2022: Al-Ittihad 2-1 Al-Hilal (League)
This match is crucial in the title race, as Al-Hilal seeks to maintain its point difference with its direct pursuer, while Al-Ittihad aims to reduce the gap to just one point in case of victory.
The match is expected to witness a large attendance, especially with the recent decision allowing 100% attendance in Saudi stadiums. The management of both clubs has announced the allocation of large numbers of tickets for their loyal fans.
As the kickoff approaches, all eyes are on this highly anticipated encounter that promises to deliver an exciting football spectacle reflecting the strength and competitiveness of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Professional League.