Al-Hilal matched their very own file for the largest win in Saudi Professional League historical past on Thursday, humiliating Al Fateh with a 9-0 victory to remain high of the desk.
The reigning champions, who beforehand put 9 objectives previous Al-Hazem early of their invincible 2023-24 marketing campaign, have been helped on their method by a Marcos Leonardo hat-trick.
They initially needed to stay affected person, with Kalidou Koulibaly opening the scoring after 20 minutes and Renan Lodi doubling their lead within the thirty ninth minute, however Leonardo’s first aim – a penalty in first-half stoppage time – noticed the floodgates open.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic made it 4-0 within the ninth minute of first-half extra time, then Leonardo bought his second 9 minutes after the restart to additional improve their lead.
Leonardo’s hat-trick aim was assisted by Ruben Neves simply after the hour mark, then Abdullah Al Hamddan and Malcom struck late to place Al-Hilal inside attain of their file margin of victory.
Faisal Al Abdulwahed’s 98th-minute personal aim made it 9-0 earlier than the struggling guests noticed Ziyad Al Jari despatched off for denying a transparent goalscoring alternative.
Al Fateh prevented transport double figures within the last two minutes of stoppage time, although they continue to be rooted to the underside of the desk with simply six factors, six adrift of security.
My workforce pic.twitter.com/98Lor46kRK
— AlHilal Saudi Membership (@Alhilal_EN) January 16, 2025
That victory took Jorge Jesus’ leaders three factors away from title rivals Al-Ittihad, however objectives from Karim Benzema and Steven Bergwijn helped the challengers claw that hole again with a 4-1 win over Al-Raed.
Actual Madrid icon Benzema pounced with a close-range end to place Al-Ittihad forward within the twenty first minute, then Bergwijn struck from the sting of the D on the stroke of half-time.
Naif Hazazi’s left-footed end halved the arrears within the second half, however Abdulrahman Al Obud and Houssem Aouar scored to place some gloss on the scoreline for Al-Ittihad, who stay second on aim distinction.