Al Hazem vs Al-Hilal – News and Probable Lineups

Al Hazem aims to capitalize on their strong home record as they welcome second-placed Al-Hilal to the Al Hazem Club Stadium on Saturday evening. This Saudi Pro League match features a mid-table team going up against one of the league’s top contenders.

The home side comes into this match unbeaten in their last six home fixtures, while Al-Hilal arrives at the Al Hazem Club Stadium still maintaining their undefeated streak in the Saudi Pro League this season. They also hold faint hopes of catching league leaders Al Nassr at the top of the table.

Match overview

As the Saudi Pro League campaign nears its conclusion, Al Hazem finds themselves in a comfortable position, sitting ninth in the standings with 38 points from 10 wins, eight draws, and 12 losses. This position secures their top-flight status for another season after promotion.

Relegation is no longer a worry for head coach Jalel Kadri’s team, and finishing comfortably in mid-table is a positive outcome for a side that has exceeded expectations in their first season back in the Pro League.

Recent performances have been a mix of resilience and inconsistency, with three victories, one draw, and one loss from their last five matches, yielding 10 goals scored but also seven conceded—illustrating their defensive weaknesses throughout the campaign.

The latest of these matches ended in a 1-1 draw with NEOM SC, a result that encapsulated their tendency to compete well but fail to secure maximum points consistently.

At home, however, Al Hazem has proven to be a much more formidable opponent, remaining unbeaten in their last six home games, claiming five victories in that span.

The head-to-head record between these teams doesn’t favor the hosts, as Al-Hilal has triumphed in all five of their recent encounters, the last of which resulted in a 3-0 win for the visitors.

Al-Hilal arrives at the Al Hazem Club Stadium as the most consistent side in the Saudi Pro League this season, remaining unbeaten after 29 league matches with a record of 21 wins and eight draws, placing them second in the standings with 68 points.

Currently, they are eight points behind leaders Al Nassr with only a few fixtures left, making it unlikely they will secure the title. However, they still have a chance at winning silverware, having reached the King’s Cup of Champions final.

Al-Hilal’s attacking statistics are impressive, with 76 goals scored and just 25 allowed throughout the season, while their away record boasts nine wins and four draws without a single defeat, demonstrating their threat regardless of the location.

Their last league fixture saw them earn a hard-fought 1-0 win against Damac FC, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s goal in the 18th minute proving to be the match-winner—maintaining their unbeaten league streak heading into the weekend.

Team News

Al Hazem enters this match with no reported injuries, allowing Kadri to choose from a full squad ahead of Saturday’s home encounter.

Abdulaziz Al-Harbi, Abdullah Al-Shanqiti, Abdulrahman Al-Dakheel, and Saud Al-Rashid are expected to form the back four, with Ibrahim Zaid remaining in goal behind them.

Rosier Lorientz, Aboubacar Bah, and Abdulrahman Al-Khaibary are likely to anchor the midfield, while Elias Mokwana offers width from the flanks.

Al-Hilal will be missing Saimon Bouabre, who is out due to a hamstring injury, and Hamad Al Yami, who is unavailable with a knee problem.

Murad Al Hawsawi remains a doubt with a knee injury and will undergo a late fitness test ahead of kickoff.

Malcom, Karim Benzema, and Salem Al-Dawsari are anticipated to lead the attack once more, with Ruben Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, and Mohamed Kanno set to continue in midfield behind them.

Al Hazem probable starting XI:

Zaid; Al-Rashid, Al Dakheel, Al-Shanqiti, Al-Harbi; Rosier, Al-Khaibary, Bah; Martins, Al Soma, Mokwana

Al-Hilal probable starting XI:

Bono; Hernandez, Akcicek, Tambakti, Al-Harbi; Milinkovic-Savic, Neves, Kanno; Malcom, Benzema, Al-Dawsari

With Al-Hilal’s unbeaten league record and clear quality in all positions, they are significant favorites in this fixture, and Inzaghi’s squad should encounter minimal issues in securing all three points on the road.