Al-Hilal will look to maintain their perfect start to the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season when they return to action against Al Fayha at Kingdom Arena on Friday afternoon.
The hosts are three points clear at the summit of the league standings after the first six games of the season, while the visitors are in 14th place with five points over the same period.
Match preview
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After romping to the domestic double last season, Al-Hilal have kicked off their title defence incredibly well, and despite being just six games into the new campaign, they already look destined to go back-to-back.
The Blue Waves posted a flawless six wins from six leading up to the international break, and are leading Group B in the AFC Champions League Elite as one of only two teams in the section, along with Al Ahli, to have won their first two matches.
Jorge Jesus's side have also been rampant in attack this season, scoring a remarkable 18 goals in league competition, half of which have been tucked away by Aleksander Mitrovic, who is now two clear of Karim Benzema and four ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the leading goal-scorer standings.
The Serbian international netted twice against Al-Malaki in his side's last outing, marking his fourth brace already this season, and he has only failed to score in one league match so far this term.
Across all competitions, Al-Hilal have played three home games this season, scoring 11 goals in that time, while in the league they are on an 18-match winning streak and unbeaten in their last 25, and only failed to score two or more goals in two of those matches.
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While the hosts are very heavily fancied to take all three points from this match, it is worth noting that Al Fayha were the only side that left the Kingdom Arena with anything last season when they played to a 1-1 draw with the champions on opening day.
Al-Burtuqali went on to post their best-ever top-flight finish last season of ninth, but they have stumbled out the blocks this term, currently only one point above newly promoted Al Kholood, who is the first side below the dotted line.
Chief among Christos Kontis's side's struggles so far this season has been their lack of attacking output, with the side managing only five goals this campaign, which is the third-fewest in the division behind Al-Khaleej and basement club Al Fateh.
Additionally, the Greek tactician is still searching for his first win on the road since arriving in the Middle East, having lost one and drawn the last two of his three away matches in charge to date.
Despite earning a point here last season, Al Fayha are winless in their last four matches against the Blue Waves (W0 D1 L3) dating back to May 2022, and have been outscored by them 7-1 in that time.
Team News
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Al-Hilal were dealt one significant injury blow during the international break, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou sustaining a muscle injury against the Central African Republic, which will see him sit out this match.
The Moroccan shot-stopper will be joined on the sidelines by Neymar, though the Brazilian has now returned to training and reports suggest that he should be fit to resume club duty in the Champions League later this month.
Al Fayha have just one confirmed absentee for this weekend's trip in the form of Henry Onyekuru, who has yet to feature this season due to injury and is only expected to return next year.
Mohammed Al-Baqawi was withdrawn at halftime in the side's 2-2 draw against Al Wehda before the international break, which may suggest that Makhir Saleh will start at right-back in this one.
Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Al-Owais; Al-Shahrani, Koulibaly, Al-Bulaihi, Lodi; Neves, Milinkovic-Savic; Al-Dawsari, Malcolm, Al-Ghannam; Mitrovic
Al Fayha possible starting lineup:
Mosquera; Al-Baqawi, Khaibari, Smalling, Abdi; Sakala, Cimirot, Shukurov, Al-Harthi, Lopez, Pozuelo
We say: Al-Hilal 3-1 Al Fayha
Al-Hilal have already announced themselves as the team to beat in the Pro League this season, and given their form so far, we feel that they will secure another fairly comfortable home win in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
