In a thrilling Classico at the radiant King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Al-Ittihad delivered a stunning blow to Al-Hilal, the defending Saudi Professional League champions, with a commanding 4-1 victory in the 21st round of the competition. This defeat comes at a critical time for Al-Hilal, who have struggled to recover from recent disappointing results, while Al-Ittihad solidified their position at the top of the league, now leading by 7 points.
Al-Ittihad capitalized on Al-Hilal’s recent dip in form, which saw them draw against Damac and Al-Riyadh, widening the gap at the top to 4 points before this match. With this emphatic win, Al-Ittihad raised their total points to 55 from 21 matches, boasting 18 wins, 1 draw, and only 2 losses, one of which was against Al-Hilal earlier in the season.
On the other hand, Al-Hilal remains in second place with 48 points, earned from 15 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses, including today’s defeat. This victory marks Al-Ittihad’s first league win over Al-Hilal since the second round of the 2020-2021 season, when they triumphed 2-0 in the 25th round.
Prior to this match, Al-Ittihad, led by French star Karim Benzema, had secured three consecutive wins against Al-Khaleej, Al-Taawoun, and Al-Wehda, further cementing their dominance in the league. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal’s struggles continue as they face mounting pressure to reclaim their form in the title race.
