Without Mitrovic, Al Shehri, Malcom and Abdulhamid scored and overturned Kanté’s lead. Milinkovic-Savic shines
In an evening that started badly, without Mitrovic’s goals, Al Hilal almost definitively mortgaged the Saudi Pro League, moving to +9 from Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. At the Kindgom Arena, Al Ittihad – without Benzema – lost 3-1, in a match in which Gallardo’s team had the merit of breaking the deadlock after twelve minutes with Kanté. The goals from Al Shehri, Malcom and Abdulhamid, accompanied by two assists from Milinkovic-Savic (eleven in the league), are thus the fifteenth consecutive success in the Saudi League for the blues from Riyadh. After more than three months, Tatarusanu wins again and does so with a clean sheet: 2-0 for Abha against Al Tai, fundamental in terms of survival. Victory also for Al Riyadh, who beat Al Akhdood 2-1 away.
Al Hilal–Al Ittihad 3-1
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Jesus’ team does not know defeat, still unbeaten and close to a historic record: 25th consecutive victory in all competitions, -2 behind the Welsh New Saints who in the 2016-17 season achieved a haul of 27 successes in a row. Gallardo presents itself with a 5-3-2 of all defense and counterattack: a plan that works great in the first half, with Al Hilal, the best attack in the championship, having to wait 39 minutes to get a shot on target for the first time. The blitz, however, was placed by the yellow and blacks in the 12th minute with a winning header from Kanté on the insertion. Benzema isn’t there, Hamdallah and Romarinho lead Gallardo’s attack. In Al Hilal we feel the lack of a key player like Mitrovic, replaced by Al Shehri, who remained a ghost until the equalizer in the 39th minute after a melee in the area which ended with his shot into the corner.
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The episode that changed the match negatively for Al Ittihad came in the 43rd minute, when a hold by Koulibaly was punished with a penalty by the referee. However, VAR calls him back and cancels everything. In the second half Al Hilal dominated, hitting Al Mayouf several times but between the 59th and 67th minutes directed the match with goals from Malcom and Abdulhamid. Both united by Milinkovic’s winning passes, in a state of grace. After three consecutive victories, the championship run of the reigning champions comes to an end, fifth with 37 points. Waiting to find the best Benzema again.
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