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Big Showdown Between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad in the Saudi King’s Cup

Following the end of the Gulf Cup, Saudi football returns with a major clash in the quarterfinals of the King’s Cup, as league leaders Al-Ittihad face runners-up and reigning champions Al-Hilal today.

At Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Al-Hilal hosts Al-Ittihad, hoping to extend their dominance in head-to-head encounters. Al-Ittihad, nicknamed “Al-Ameed,” last defeated “Al-Za’eem” on April 9, 2021, in the domestic league (2-0). Since then, the two teams have met 13 times across all competitions, with Al-Hilal claiming victory in 12 matches and one ending in a draw.

Al-Hilal also won their most recent league encounter, a 3-1 victory in September, and eliminated Al-Ittihad in the King’s Cup semifinals in April 2024 with a 2-1 win.

Under the guidance of renowned French coach Laurent Blanc, Al-Ittihad has enjoyed a remarkable season, sitting atop the league standings with consistent and balanced performances. The team is bolstered by star players, veteran French striker Karim Benzema and former Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby.

However, concerns have arisen as reports suggest Benzema and Diaby missed training on Sunday due to unspecified injuries, with their severity unclear. Additionally, forward Saleh Al-Shehri remains in doubt, continuing rehabilitation for a thigh injury sustained with the Saudi national team during the Gulf Cup. The team will also be without defender Abdul-Ilah Al-Amri, sidelined by a groin injury that kept him out of Saudi Arabia’s Gulf Cup squad.

Al-Ittihad reached the quarterfinals by defeating Al-Jandal 2-0 in the Round of 16, while Al-Hilal advanced with a commanding 4-1 win over Al-Tai.

Al-Hilal, aiming for a fourth consecutive victory across all competitions, recently played a friendly against Omani side Al-Nasr in late December, winning 4-1.

The “Blue Wave” will be without left-back Yasser Al-Shahrani due to an injury sustained during the Gulf Cup, and Brazilian star Neymar remains absent as he recovers from a season-opening injury. The team is expected to rely heavily on Neymar’s compatriot, winger Malcom.

Neymar was not registered in Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad due to the league’s cap on foreign players (8 players, with an additional 2 under-21 players). As a result, he is also ineligible for the King’s Cup.

However, Portuguese midfielder Rúben Neves and Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović are confirmed in coach Jorge Jesus’ lineup. Reports also suggest Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić (10 goals and 4 assists in 23 matches this season) is nearing a return after missing Friday’s training session for treatment.

Al-Hilal holds the record for most King’s Cup titles (20), ahead of Jeddah’s two powerhouses, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, with 18 titles each. Al-Hilal won the most recent edition, defeating their archrivals Al-Nassr in a thrilling final decided by penalty shootouts.

Elsewhere, third-placed Al-Qadsiah, on a six-match winning streak in the league, faces ninth-placed Al-Taawoun. The game has been relocated to Al-Raed’s stadium, with the two teams set to meet again in the league just four days later.

Al-Taawoun eliminated Al-Nassr in the Round of 16 with a 1-0 away victory, boosting their ambitions, while Al-Qadsiah advanced by defeating Al-Wehda 2-1.

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