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Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, two of Saudi Arabia's premier football clubs, are set to clash today in the quarter-finals of the King's Cup at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. This encounter, often dubbed the "Saudi El Clasico," promises high stakes and intense competition.
Recent Form and Head-to-Head:
Al-Hilal, currently second in the Saudi Pro League with 34 points, have been in commendable form. Their last outing on December 7, 2024, resulted in a 3-2 victory over Al-Raed, marking their third consecutive win across all competitions.
Al-Ittihad, leading the league with 36 points, are on an impressive 11-game winning streak. Their most recent match saw them edge past Al-Nassr with a 91st-minute goal by Steven Bergwijn.
Historically, in 88 encounters, Al-Hilal have dominated with 44 wins to Al-Ittihad's 21. Notably, Al-Ittihad's last victory over Al-Hilal was in April 2021. Since then, Al-Hilal have secured seven consecutive wins against their rivals.
Team News:
Al-Hilal may see the return of Neymar, who is recovering from injury, potentially boosting their attacking options. However, doubts remain over the fitness of key players such as Joao Cancelo, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Ruben Neves is confirmed to be sidelined due to injury, and Yasser Al-Shahrani is out for the season with an ACL injury.
Al-Ittihad's lineup is expected to feature playmaker Steven Bergwijn, with Houssem Aouar and Abdulrahman Al-Aboud supporting Karim Benzema in attack. However, the availability of Abdulaziz Al-Bishi, Felipe, and Moussa Diaby remains uncertain.
Match Details:
The match is scheduled to kick off at 9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. In Riyadh, local time is 8:30 pm. For viewers in the United States, the game will be broadcast live on FS2 and FOX Deportes, and can be streamed online via Fubo and DirecTV Stream.
As both teams vie for a spot in the semi-finals, fans can anticipate a fiercely contested match, reflective of the rich history and rivalry between these two football giants.
For a glimpse of the action, here's a highlight from a recent encounter between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad:
