Al Hilal secured the championship three matches before the season’s end with a 4-1 rout, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr behind and out of reach for Marcelo Gallardo’s Al-Ittihad.
Al Hilal secured the championship three matches before the season’s end with a 4-1 rout, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr behind and out of reach for Marcelo Gallardo’s Al-Ittihad.
On Saturday, Al Hilal clinched their 19th title in the prestigious Saudi Arabian League by defeating bottom-placed Al Hazem 4-1, extending their winning streak to 24 matches under Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus. The victory mathematically eliminated Al-Nassr from contention and put Al-Ittihad far from challenging for the championship.
The match, played at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, started with a penalty converted by Aleksandr Mitrovic in the 15th minute, giving the champions an early lead. Faiz Selemanie equalized for Al Hazem in the 34th minute, offering a brief reprieve for the team coached by Uruguayan Daniel Carreño. Before halftime, Al Hilal regained the lead with an own goal by Ahmed Al Juwaid in the 39th minute.
In the second half, the champions quickly took control: Mitrovic scored the third goal in the 48th minute assisted by Savic, and just three minutes later, Milinkovic Savic added the fourth. With the lead secure, Jorge Jesus’ squad focused on controlling the game and running down the clock until the final whistle.
Injured Neymar, although sidelined due to physical issues, remains a key figure in the squad and an important part of the club’s project. His presence provides experience and leadership in the champion team’s locker room.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr finished second, 12 points behind the champions, despite Ronaldo’s outstanding scoring season, netting 33 goals in the tournament and reaching 890 career goals, cementing his personal record as the all-time top scorer.
On the other hand, Marcelo Gallardo’s Al-Ittihad suffered another heavy defeat, this time 5-0 against Al-Ettifaq, leaving them fifth in the standings and raising questions about their league performance and prospects in international competitions.
With this victory, Al Hilal confirms their dominance in the Saudi Arabian League, highlights the influence of South American football in the region, and demonstrates that Jorge Jesus’ strategy continues to yield results in an increasingly competitive league.
