Al-Hilal began their Saudi Pro League title challenge with a confident 2-0 victory over Al-Riyadh at the Kingdom Arena on Friday, signaling their intent to reclaim the crown after Al-Ittihad's triumph in the 2024-25 season. Salem Al Dawsari, the team's influential captain, orchestrated the win with two crucial assists, marking a successful league debut for new manager Simone Inzaghi.
The match started with high intensity as Darwin Nunez, eager to make an impact on his Pro League debut, found the net in the ninth minute. However, his celebrations were cut short as the goal was disallowed due to a foul committed during the build-up, leaving Al-Hilal's early dominance unrewarded.
Undeterred, Al-Hilal continued to press, and their persistence paid off in the 22nd minute. Al Dawsari, showcasing his vision and precision, delivered an exquisite reverse pass to Moteb Al Harbi, who unleashed a powerful shot that beat Milan Borjan at his near post, putting Al-Hilal ahead. The Kingdom Arena erupted in celebration as the home side took a well-deserved lead.
Moments later, Al Dawsari had a golden opportunity to extend Al-Hilal's advantage after a slick exchange with Malcom. However, the captain was unable to convert, missing a chance to further cement his team's control over the match. Despite the miss, Al-Hilal maintained their attacking momentum, constantly probing the Al-Riyadh defense.
As the first half drew to a close, Al-Hilal doubled their lead in the third minute of stoppage time, thanks to another moment of brilliance from Al Dawsari. The captain's clever flick found Malcom, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner, leaving Borjan with no chance. The goal provided Al-Hilal with a comfortable cushion heading into the break.
After the restart, Al-Hilal continued to dictate the tempo of the game, creating several opportunities to put the result beyond doubt. Nunez had another chance to score, but he could only scoop Malcom's pass over the crossbar, much to the frustration of the home fans. Al-Riyadh struggled to contain Al-Hilal's attacking prowess, finding it difficult to create meaningful chances of their own.
Despite not adding to their lead in the second half, Al-Hilal's dominant performance ensured a comfortable victory. The win extended their impressive record on matchday one in the Pro League, marking their 13th consecutive opening-day triumph in the top flight. Their unbeaten run in league matches in August now stands at 14 (W12 D2), with their last defeat in this month dating back to 2020.
Simone Inzaghi will be encouraged by his team's performance, particularly the influential display of Salem Al Dawsari. The captain's creativity and leadership were instrumental in securing the victory, providing a solid foundation for their title aspirations. Al-Hilal's attacking statistics further highlighted their dominance, registering an expected goals (xG) total of two from their 15 shots, compared to Al-Riyadh's 0.2 from their two shots.
Al Dawsari's impact was undeniable, leading the team in chances created (three) and successful dribbles (two). Only Ruben Neves (27) played more passes in the final third than Al-Hilal’s captain (25), showcasing his importance in dictating the team's attacking play. This victory underlines Al-Hilal's credentials as serious title contenders this season, and with Al Dawsari leading by example, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
