Houssem Aouar and Bono comment on the Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal draw in the Saudi Clasico
Echoes of the Saudi Clasico: A draw that feels like a victory for Al-Ittihad and heartbreak for Al-Hilal
The final round of the Saudi Professional League witnessed a heavyweight clash between Saudi football giants Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, a "classic" encounter that captivated fans both inside and outside the Kingdom. This match comes amidst the fierce historical rivalry between the two teams, a rivalry that has intensified with the influx of international stars, making the Saudi league a focus of global attention.
A dramatic scenario and early numerical shortage
The match was anything but ordinary, as Al-Ittihad faced exceptionally difficult circumstances from the opening minutes. Defender Hassan Kadash was sent off with a red card very early on, in the ninth minute, forcing the team to play with only ten men for nearly 80 minutes against Al-Hilal's formidable attacking force. Despite Al-Hilal taking the lead through a goal by Brazilian star Malcom, Al-Ittihad's players showed no signs of slowing down.
Houssem Aouar: A fighting spirit and a strange feeling towards Benzema
Algerian star Houssem Aouar emerged as one of the heroes of the match, scoring a crucial equalizer for his team with a perfectly placed header in the second half, bringing the game back to square one. In notable post-match comments, Aouar expressed his immense pride in his teammates, describing playing with a numerical disadvantage against a team of Al-Hilal's caliber as "always difficult," and emphasizing that such circumstances only complicate matters further.
In discussing the competitive atmosphere and training sessions, Aouar made an interesting statement about his teammate and team captain, Frenchman Karim Benzema, indicating that he felt a very strange feeling when he found himself facing Benzema (in a reference that may be understood to be related to the context of internal competitions or intense training sessions that bring together the stars), saying: “We had only been playing together for a few weeks,” reflecting the depth of the relationship and the high level of competitiveness between the stars coming from European stadiums.
The Algerian star emphasized that the red card was a turning point that significantly altered the tactical course of the match, limiting the team's ability to play with their usual attacking ambition. He explained that had the team played with a full squad, they would have been able to exert greater control over the ball and demonstrate a stronger attacking drive to secure the three points.
Yassine Bounou: A draw is not our ambition
On the other hand, Moroccan international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Al-Hilal's guardian of the net, did not hide his dissatisfaction with the final result. In statements reflecting the winning mentality instilled in the "Leader" (Al-Hilal's nickname), Bounou said, "It wasn't the result we were expecting." Despite praising the tremendous physical effort exerted by his teammates, he described the overall feeling after the match as negative, attributing the loss of control at certain points to a lapse in concentration.
Bono stressed the need to turn the page and focus intently on the upcoming matches, emphasizing the importance of striving for victory in all future competitions.
Upcoming challenges in a busy calendar
This result comes at a crucial time in the season, with neither team having much time to rest. Al-Hilal is preparing for another tough match when they visit Al-Taawoun next Tuesday in a rescheduled match from the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League, a game in which they will be looking to bounce back and continue their climb towards the top of the table.
