Al Hilal vs Al Hazem
Date: Thursday, 8 January 2026
Kick-off: 18:00 AST
Venue: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh
How to Watch: Livestream on SPOTV NOW
Al Hilal sit at the summit of the Saudi Pro League, holding a slender one-point lead over rivals Al Nassr. With Week 14 underway, Simone Inzaghi’s side will look to cement their position before a blockbuster showdown with Al Nassr on January 12.
On Thursday, Al Hilal host an unpredictable Al Hazem outfit at Kingdom Arena. Al Hazem have endured a mixed run of form, with two wins and two defeats in their last five outings. They currently occupy 11th place after a narrow 2-1 loss to Neom last week.
Despite their struggles, Al Hazem boast one of the league’s most resilient defenses. Goalkeeper Bruno Varela has been a standout performer, registering 38 saves—the fifth-highest tally in the division. Collectively, Al Hazem rank seventh defensively, conceding just 17 goals this season.
For Al Hilal, this is far from a routine fixture. Securing three points is crucial to maintain their grip on top spot ahead of the high-stakes clash with Al Nassr.
History, however, favors the hosts: Al Hilal have dominated recent meetings, winning four of the last five encounters and scoring an astonishing 20 goals in the process.
Inzaghi will once again turn to his star duo—Sergej Milinković-Savić and Darwin Núñez—to break down Al Hazem’s disciplined backline.
Milinković-Savić has been in scintillating form, contributing four goal involvements (two goals, two assists) in his last three league matches. Núñez, meanwhile, has chipped in with two goals and an assist across his previous four appearances.
With momentum on their side and a title race heating up, Al Hilal know there’s no room for error.
