Ruben Neves Injury Blow for Al Hilal: 3-4 Weeks Out, Set to Miss Al Nassr Clash
Al Hilal will miss the services of Ruben Neves for the next three to four weeks after the club confirmed that the Portuguese midfielder will be out of action due to an injury. Neves was hurt in the second half of the AFC Champions League Elite clash against Al Ain.
The defending Saudi Pro League champions announced Neves’ injury on their official X (formerly Twitter) page, saying, “Medical tests show Ruben Neves’s need for a 3-4 weeks of treatment and rehab program; due to his knee injury”. The midfielder sustained the injury during the Al Ain match, in which Al Hilal won 5-4.
Al Hilal will miss a crucial cog of their midfield who has been ever-present in the squad, having started all seven matches in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season. Neves, 27, was a key player for Al Hilal last season, having finished second on the assists chart with 12 assists. His creativity was one of the reasons that Al Hilal maintained their winning ways last season. While he’s only managed two assists this season so far, Neves has been contributing in midfield to control the tempo and dictate the play in matches.
Neves will sit out at least four matches, the most important one being the contest against Al Nassr on Friday, November 1st. Al Hilal is four points ahead of Al Nassr and will look to win the match and confirm their title defense credentials. Al Nassr will view the match as an opportunity to end Al Hilal’s winning run while keeping the title race within their reach. Neves’s absence will certainly offer Al Nassr the hope that they can pull off a positive result.
