Analysis of the Al-Hilal vs. Damac match: The battle for the top spot in the Roshan League
Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens this evening (Sunday) as the highly anticipated match between Damac and Al-Hilal takes place at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha. This crucial match comes at a pivotal moment in the league, with Al-Hilal looking to capitalize on their arch-rival Al-Nassr's slip-up against Al-Ahli and seize the top spot, while Damac battles to escape the relegation zone.
The importance of the match in the context of the competition
This encounter takes on added significance beyond just the three points at stake; the Saudi League has become the focus of global attention thanks to its attraction of some of the world's biggest football stars, making every match a scrutiny. Al-Hilal, with its star-studded squad, understands that dropping points against lower-ranked teams could ultimately cost them the title, especially given the fierce competition this season. On the other hand, playing at home in front of their fans in Al-Mahalah represents a powerful advantage for Damac, who have a history of putting on impressive performances against popular clubs.
Technical analysis: Al-Hilal and morale
In a technical analysis of the situation, Ahmed Mahrez, the technical director of the regional center in Asir, explained that Al-Hilal enters the match with high morale and a strong psychological edge. He pointed out that the technical differences clearly favor the Blues in terms of tactical organization and player quality. Mahrez emphasized that Al-Hilal possesses a complete system, starting with a solid defense, through a dynamic midfield led by Serbian Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Portuguese Ruben Neves, and culminating in a formidable attacking force represented by Brazilian Malcom and Salem Al-Dawsari, in addition to strikers capable of capitalizing on even half-chances.
Mahrez added that Al-Hilal will likely employ a high-pressing, possession-based style to force Damac back, while varying their attacking play between the center and the wings to score an early goal and settle their nerves. However, he cautioned that Damac will not be an easy opponent, predicting that their coach will resort to a tight defense and rely on quick counter-attacks to exploit any spaces left by Al-Hilal's attacking forays.
Challenges of absences and opponent tactics
For his part, national team coach Abdulaziz Hashlan drew attention to some of the challenges facing Al-Hilal, pointing out the team's lack of key players in the back line, such as Coulibaly and Bono, which could pose a defensive burden. Hashlan predicted that Al-Hilal would adopt a 4-4-2 formation, focusing on crosses and long-range shots as attacking options.
Regarding the Damac team, Hashlan explained that the southern team is armed with a series of positive results recently (not losing in the last 4 rounds), and will play with a defensive formation (5-4-1) to close the passing lanes for Al-Hilal’s stars, describing the match as very difficult for the home team and not a walk in the park for the visitors.
Home advantage and crowd
In the same vein, sports journalists Saeed Al-Hatla and Hassan Al-Qubaisi emphasized the psychological and morale aspects. Al-Hatla pointed out that Damac is riding high after its recent victory and must capitalize on this by playing with high tactical discipline and attempting to score on the counter-attack. Meanwhile, Al-Qubaisi affirmed that the fans from the Asir region will be present in force at the Al-Mahala stadium, giving Damac a significant boost as they strive to replicate their impressive performances against top teams. He noted that securing a draw against a team of Al-Hilal's caliber would be a major achievement for the "Knights of the South.".
