Al-Hilal achieved a remarkable 9-0 victory over Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League, equaling their own record for the largest win in the competition's history. This dominant performance not only secured all three points but also kept Al-Hilal firmly at the top of the league standings. Marcos Leonardo was the star of the match, scoring a hat-trick and playing a pivotal role in the commanding victory.
The match began with Al-Hilal taking control early on. Kalidou Koulibaly and Renan Lodi both scored in the first half, putting their side in a commanding 2-0 lead. As the game approached stoppage time, Leonardo netted a penalty goal, further extending the advantage to 3-0. However, Al-Hilal wasn’t finished yet. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic added another goal just before halftime, pushing the score to 4-0.
After the break, Leonardo struck again, netting his second goal with an assist from Ruben Neves. As Al-Hilal continued to press forward, Abdullah Al Hamddan and Malcom added late goals, making it a near-perfect performance. The final blow came in the form of an own goal from Faisal Al Abdulwahed, which sealed the 9-0 scoreline. Adding to Al Fateh’s misery, Ziyad Al Jari received a red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, compounding the team's struggles.
While Al-Hilal’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, their title rivals, Al-Ittihad, are still within reach. Al-Ittihad secured a comfortable 4-1 victory over Al-Raed, narrowing the gap to just three points. Karim Benzema opened the scoring for Al-Ittihad with a close-range finish in the 21st minute, followed by a stunning outside-the-box strike from Steven Bergwijn just before halftime.
In the second half, Al-Raed fought back with Naif Hazazi scoring a left-footed shot to reduce the deficit, but Al-Ittihad responded with late goals from Abdulrahman Al Obud and Houssem Aouar to seal their win. Despite the victory, Al-Ittihad remains second in the league standings, with goal difference keeping them behind Al-Hilal.
For Al Fateh, the 9-0 defeat was a devastating blow. The team now sits at the bottom of the league with just six points, six points adrift of safety. While they managed to avoid a double-digit defeat in stoppage time, their performance revealed significant defensive weaknesses that will need to be addressed if they are to avoid relegation. The road ahead looks challenging, and their upcoming fixtures will be crucial in determining whether they can escape their current struggles.
