Al-Hilal aims to return to winning form as they host Al Kholood at the Kingdom Arena in the Saudi Pro League on Wednesday. Currently, Al-Hilal is second in the league standings, trailing leaders Al-Nassr by five points. In contrast, Al Kholood is positioned 14th with 26 points from 27 matches.
Match Preview: Al-Hilal vs Al Kholood
This season, Al-Hilal has demonstrated impressive performance, remaining unbeaten in the league. Their exceptional run spans 42 matches across all competitions. Despite this success, the team struggled recently, drawing 2-2 with Al-Taawoun. They led that match through Mohamed Kader Meite but were pegged back before Marcos Leonardo secured a late equalizer.
At home, Al-Hilal has claimed 34 points from 14 matches. They have a strong history against Al Kholood, winning their last three encounters. With the title race tightening, Al-Hilal can’t afford further slip-ups.
Al Kholood’s Struggles
Al Kholood currently sits six points clear of the relegation zone. However, they face potential danger as the season nears its end. Several teams below them remain capable of advantageous runs, making every point crucial for their survival. This season, Al Kholood has accumulated 16 points on the road, scoring and conceding 20 goals. Their defense, however, is concerning, having conceded 50 goals overall—only Al Akhdoud and Al Najma have let in more.
Head coach Des Buckingham is particularly worried about his team’s inability to maintain clean sheets. Al Kholood has not kept opponents from scoring in their last eight matches and has conceded in all of their previous three games against Al-Hilal.
Recent Form
- Al-Hilal Saudi Pro League Form: D D W W W D
- Al-Hilal All Competitions Form: D W W W W D
- Al Kholood Saudi Pro League Form: L W W L L D
- Al Kholood All Competitions Form: W W L L W D
Team News
Al-Hilal faces several injury concerns. Karim Benzema remains uncertain for this match. On a positive note, Salem Al-Dossari and Sultan Mandash resumed training and may be fit to play. In contrast, Hamad Al-Yami and Youssef Akchichek are sidelined, and Darwin Nunez has been de-registered.
For Al Kholood, Abdulmalik Al-Harbi is out for the season due to an ACL injury. Myziane Maolida and Norbert Gyomber are also likely to miss the match, yet Des Buckingham otherwise has a reasonably healthy squad.
Predicted Lineups
Al-Hilal Possible Starting Lineup:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Bounou |
| DF | Darisi, Lajami, Koulibaly, Hernandez |
| MF | Kanno, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic |
| FW | Malcom, Benzema, Leonardo |
Al Kholood Possible Starting Lineup:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Cozzani |
| DF | Sawaan, Utkus, Pinas, Solan |
| MF | N’Doram, Buckley, Kortajarena |
| FW | Al Aliwa, Bahbri, Guga |
Match Prediction
It is anticipated that Al-Hilal will secure a 3-1 victory against Al Kholood. The hosts will be eager to rebound from their last match and, based on their overall quality and depth, should prevail against a struggling Al Kholood side. Although the visitors have shown competitiveness, especially away from home, Al-Hilal’s superiority should be decisive in claiming all three points.
