Al Hilal will kick off their Saudi Pro League campaign at home against Al Riyadh in the opening round of the season. The match is set for Friday, August 29, at 17:50 CET.
Let’s break down what to expect from both teams in this matchup, especially in terms of goal-scoring potential.
Match Preview
Al Hilal had a strong showing last season but fell short of reclaiming the league title, finishing second—eight points behind champions Al Ittihad. Their performance in the AFC Champions League was also noteworthy, making it to the semifinals before losing to Al Ahli.
On the global stage, Al Hilal reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, suffering their only loss in the last 12 matches—a narrow 2-1 defeat to Fluminense. The team maintained their sharpness during the summer, winning both of their preseason friendlies comfortably.
In their recent history against Al Riyadh, Al Hilal have been dominant at home. Across seven meetings, they’ve secured three wins and four draws. Interestingly, both teams have scored in six of those encounters.
Al Riyadh had a challenging 2024 campaign, finishing 11th and narrowly avoiding relegation by just five points. Their form collapsed toward the end of the season, winning only once in the final ten matches (1 win, 2 draws, 7 losses). Their preseason hasn’t offered much promise either, recording only one draw in four friendlies.
Historically, Al Riyadh have struggled against Al Hilal and are yet to claim a victory in this fixture. They’ve lost three of the last four matchups. However, they did manage a 1-1 away draw last season, which stands as a rare positive result against the powerhouse side.
Al Hilal vs Al Riyadh Head-to-Head (Key Match Stats)
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Al Hilal are unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 matches.
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3 of their last 4 matches have featured over 3.5 goals.
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Both teams have scored in 3 of Al Hilal’s last 4 matches.
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Al Riyadh have failed to win in 13 of their last 14 matches.
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Al Hilal have won 3 of the last 4 head-to-head meetings.
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Both teams scored in 7 of the last 8 clashes between these two sides.
Al Hilal vs Al Riyadh Lineups (Probable)
Al Hilal: Bono; Al Hamdan, N. Al-Dawsari, S. Al-Dawsari, Hernandez; Cancelo, Koulibaly, Milinković-Savić, Neves; Malcom, Tambakti.
Al Riyadh: Al Awadi; Al Essa, Al Tumbukti, Khazazi, Khateer; Toze, Barbe, Baesh; Gonzalez, Ramirez, Seke.
Al Hilal vs Al Riyadh Prediction and Betting Tip
Al Hilal enter the match as strong favorites. With a talented squad, consistent form, and home advantage, they’ll be aiming to kick off their season with a statement win. Al Riyadh’s recent performances and historical record against Al Hilal don’t inspire confidence.
Given the attacking quality on both sides and the open nature of early-season games, we can expect a high-scoring affair.
Prediction: Over 3.5 goals
Odds: 1.58
