In a highly anticipated Saudi Pro League clash dubbed “Al Clasico,” defending champions Al Ittihad will host last season’s runners-up, Al Hilal, on Friday at the Al Inma Bank Stadium in Jeddah. Despite their powerhouse status, both teams have had a sluggish start to the season, finding themselves in fourth and fifth place, respectively, and looking to this rivalry match to ignite their campaigns.
Al Ittihad manager Laurent Blanc is currently contending with concerns over the fitness and form of superstar Karim Benzema, who is a doubt for the match with a calf injury. The champions have sputtered to three wins, a draw, and a loss in their first five league fixtures. They recently secured their first AFC Champions League victory of the season, staging a remarkable 4-1 comeback win against Al Shorta after going down to ten men, a performance they will hope to build on.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal invested heavily in the summer to dethrone the champions, bringing in head coach Simone Inzaghi along with star players like Theo Hernandez and Darwin Nunez. While they remain undefeated in the league with three wins and two draws, their domestic form has been less convincing than their perfect run in the AFC Champions League, where they recently defeated Al Sadd 3-1 to secure a third consecutive victory. Their efforts on Friday will be hampered by injuries, with defender Joao Cancelo ruled out and forward Salem Al-Dawsari listed as doubtful.
Historically, Al Hilal holds a significant advantage in this fixture, winning seven of the last ten encounters and losing only once. The match also presents a clash of styles: Al Ittihad dominates possession, averaging a league-high 7.8 passes per possession, while Al Hilal leads the league in chance creation with an expected goals (xG) of 15.73.
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