Perfect Record: Al Hilal Extends Winning Start to the Season as They Dispatch Off Al Ittihad in the Saudi Classico Derby
In a top-of-table clash between Saudi Classico rivals Al Hilal and Al Ittihad, Al Hilal extended their winning run in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season to 4 games with a 3-1 home victory.
Al Ittihad started the match in high spirits, seeking to secure a statement win that would legitimize their title credentials this season. A N’Golo Kante through ball saw Moussa Diaby latch on it and score only 23 seconds into the game. However, Diaby was adjudged to be offside, and the goal was ruled out.
Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ruben Neves were the stars of the show as the hosts claimed an emphatic victory at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City stadium. Three minutes into the match, Ruben Neves latched onto a Malcom pass, and crossed the ball to Mitrovic, who did not hesitate to head it home to make it 1-0.
Within 30 minutes of the first half, Al Ittihad’s goalkeeper, Predrag Rajkovic, was twice called into action to prevent Al Hilal from going further ahead. The Serbian international first dealt with a Joao Cancelo tight-angle shot with his feet and then saved a Sergej Milinkovic-Savic freekick.
In the 13th minute, Abdulelah Al Amri committed a foul on Renan Lodi inside the Al Ittihad box. Mitrovic made a meal out of the resulting penalty to put Al Hilal 2-0 up. Mitrovic now has eight goals in the 2024-25 SPL season, having scored a brace in all four matches played.
Al Ittihad were not to be written off easily, and a Karim Benzema effort was taken care of by Yassine Bono. Still, Ruben Neves soon made sure victory was assured for the defending champions. The Portuguese international’s 37th-minute 50-yard run from deep inside his half saw him find captain Salem Al Dawsari, who made it 3-0.
The second half was characterized by game management on Al Hilal’s side who ensured the game remained in control with no hunger to go for more goals. Late in the match, Karim Benzema grabbed a consolation goal in the 86th minute, and the match ended 3-1. Al Hilal are now firmly in first position with a maximum 12 points, while Al Ittihad are in second with 9 points, and their winning run coming to an end.
Up next for the league leaders is a contest against Al Kholood, who have only won once this season. Al Ittihad will look to return to winning ways against Al Khaleej, who’ve also only won once this season.
