Latest news with #SalemAlDawsari
Arab News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Al-Hilal stars hitting new heights at FIFA Club World Cup
DUBAI: Whenever called upon, collectively and individually, Al-Hilal's players have stepped up at just the right moments at the FIFA Club World Cup. Not many teams concede three goals against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and live to tell the tale. But that is exactly what Al-Hilal did on June 30 with their incredible 4-3 win in the Round of 16. In just a few short weeks, new coach Simone Inzaghi looks to have transformed the team tactically and mentally after a disappointing season that saw them relinquish the much-craved Saudi Pro League title. Fans and analysts have praised the intricate passing style that Inzaghi's team has displayed in their four matches, which have delivered two draws — including one against Real Madrid in Miami — and a win in the group stages, before the famous victory over the former Premier League champions. What has been striking as well is the standout performance of several individuals, with different Al-Hilal players being awarded the Man of the Match in three of the four encounters. Even in the one match they did not receive the award, the 1-1 draw against Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid on June 18, it could be argued that the outstanding player of the match was Salem Al-Dawsari, who gave debutant Trent Alexander-Arnold a difficult first half from the left wing. Instead, the vote went to Gonzalo Garcia. The 0-0 draw with Red Bull Salzburg at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. on June 22 saw Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou follow up his penalty-saving heroics in the opener with another outstanding performance, ensuring the Saudi team secured a point and went into the last matchday with all to play for. MOTM: Yassine — AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) June 23, 2025 Against Pachuca CF of Mexico on June 26 in Nashville, it was the turn of inspirational captain Al-Dawsari to be acclaimed with the Man of the Match award after scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win that saw Al-Hilal progress to the knockout stages of the tournament. Well-deserved, you legend — AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) June 27, 2025 Meanwhile, the epic win over Manchester City in Orlando was marked by a two-goal performance from Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo, who accepted the Man of the Match award in emotional circumstances. MARCOS LEONARDO MVP — AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) July 1, 2025 Al-Hilal will now face Fluminense of Brazil on Friday evening in Orlando for a place in the semifinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against either Palmeiras or Chelsea. Who will be the next star to step up for the Blues?
The National
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Is Al Hilal's landmark win over Manchester City at Club World Cup the moment Saudi football arrived?
You can have all the shiniest baubles in the world, but nothing earns credibility like achievement. The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has Cristiano Ronaldo. They had Neymar. Maybe Lionel Messi will end up in Riyadh or Jeddah next. All great, of course. But there is nothing like a win over the side who have been the benchmark for excellence for the past decade in the world's most watched football league to make a statement. Al Hilal's thrilling extra-time win over Manchester City in the Club World Cup was exactly that. A landmark success that, it should be remembered, follows a draw with the mighty Real Madrid in the group stage. This is a serious team, and they mean business. It is not the first time a side from the Kingdom has been noticed by global football. Famously, Doha was awash with green when Saudi Arabia stunned Messi's Argentina in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. Hilal's win against City ranks right up there with that. It grabs the attention in the same way as the Salem Al Dawsari-inspired success against the world champions-elect in Qatar. Al Dawsari is equally as totemic for Hilal as he is for the national team. The fact their stunning win against City came without their injured captain shows they are a side of great substance. And, unlike in Doha, Hilal's giant-killing could have lasting reverberations. The national team's triumph against Argentina was well-earned and well-celebrated back home. But the side failed to progress thereafter. Hilal, by contrast, are now through to a quarter-final against Fluminense. The Rio side may be one of the great names of Brazilian football, but the Riyadh team will regard them as beatable. Why wouldn't they after what they have done so far in this competition? They are unbeaten despite having faced titans like Madrid and City. Few beyond the region would have expected that ahead of the competition. Maybe a few even among their own fanbase would have had their doubts, given the way the past few months have gone. There are many similarities between Hilal and City. Both have expensively assembled squads who are used to competing for and winning the biggest titles available to them. Also, like City in the Premier League, Hilal were not even the best team in Saudi Arabia last season, having previously set the highest standards. Instead, the Lauren Blanc-coached Al Ittihad side of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante et al were worthy winners of the SPL. And Ittihad's city rivals, Al Ahli, earned themselves the title of best in Asia after a thrilling success on home soil in the AFC Champions League in Jeddah. At the time those trophies were being vied for, Hilal were unravelling in the final throes of Jorge Jesus' spell in charge. In the penultimate SPL game of the season, they struggled to a draw with Al Wehda, a Makkah-based club who were themselves heading towards relegation. Even then, Hilal retained an enviable squad of talent. As they have shown in the United States, they have global stars of their own. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is a midfield colossus. He dovetails brilliantly with Ruben Neves, the Portuguese schemer. It is not just their imported talent, either. Al Dawsari is the standout of their homemade contingent and one of the best in Asia, but Nasser Al Dawsari and Mohammed Kanno deserve plaudits, too. It just needed a change at the helm – Jesus was summarily axed after their Champions League semi-final exit and has now, remarkably, ended up at their city rivals Al Nassr – and a nudge in the right direction for Hilal to get back on track. How much of an impact Jesus' replacement, Simone Inzaghi, will have been able to have in the short time he has been there is debatable. He only met his new charges just ahead of the Club World Cup. But the Italian coach has certainly not got in the way, as Jesus clearly did towards the end of his spell as coach. On Inzaghi's watch, the side have looked far more like their old selves at the Club World Cup, equal to the sum of their parts. And their new manager – who was overseeing Inter Milan in the Uefa Champions League final in his previous assignment before joining them – has appreciated their efforts. 'We had to climb Mount Everest without oxygen and we made it,' Inzaghi said after the win in Orlando. A cute sentiment, no doubt. But Hilal's fans will be hoping that the best might yet be to come. They have a Club World Cup final to summit now.
Al Bawaba
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Bawaba
Man City vs Al-Hilal: Preview, Team News & Predicted Lineups
Manchester City and Al-Hilal will face off in an exciting Round of 16 match at the FIFA Club World Cup on Monday, taking place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Both teams come in undefeated, but only one can advance. Also Read FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Match Timings, Teams, and Broadcast Info Pep Guardiola's squad dominated the group stage, earning nine points from three matches. In contrast, Al-Hilal finished second in their group behind Real Madrid, using a defensive strategy. City: Strong offense and impressive stats Manchester City showcased their power in the group phase, easily defeating Al-Ain and Wydad Casablanca. They capped off their performance with a 5-2 win against Juventus, securing the top spot in Group G. Even with an early error from Ederson, which was later overshadowed by a bigger mistake from Juventus's Kalulu, City's overall performance was outstanding. They ended the group stage with the most goals (8), the best goal difference (+11), and led for an impressive 89% of the game time in their three matches. Al-Hilal: Strong defense with sharp finishing On the other hand, Al-Hilal focused on defense in Group H. They scored just three goals but conceded only once. That lone goal came in a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid. They followed that with a scoreless tie against Salzburg and then secured a 2-0 win over Pachuca on matchday three. Veteran winger Salem Al-Dawsari scored with a great lob, and Marcos Leonardo added a late goal to help the Saudi side advance to the knockout stage. Al-Hilal's defensive record matched that of Paris Saint-Germain, making them one of the toughest teams to score against so far. Manchester City Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Khusanov, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gonzalez, Gundogan; Cherki, Foden, Doku; Haaland Al-Hilal Expected XI (4-3-1-2): Bono; Cancelo, Tambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi; N. Al-Dawsari, Neves, Kanno; Milinkovic-Savic; Malcom, Leonardo
Saudi Gazette
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Al Hilal suffer injury blows ahead of Club World Cup match with Manchester City
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Hilal confirmed on Saturday that team captain Salem Al Dawsari will miss the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 clash against Manchester City due to a hamstring injury sustained during the team's 2-0 win over Mexico's Pachuca. The Saudi international is expected to be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks as he undergoes a rehabilitation program, dealing a significant blow to the Riyadh giants just days before their crucial encounter with the English champions. Injury concerns continue to mount for coach Simone Inzaghi, as Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović is still undergoing treatment and fitness work in the gym. His chances of being fit in time for the Manchester City game are considered slim. Additionally, midfielder Musab Al-Juwayr missed the latest training session in Nashville due to knee pain, while scans revealed a calf muscle injury for forward Abdullah Al-Hamdan, further complicating the squad's Hilal are set to face Manchester City in the Round of 16 of the expanded 2025 Club World Cup in the United States, having advanced from Group H with five points behind leaders Real Madrid.
Asharq Al-Awsat
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Hilal Captain Al-Dawsari Out of Club World Cup with Hamstring Injury
Al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari will miss the remainder of the Club World Cup with a hamstring injury, the Saudi club said on Saturday. "Medical tests have confirmed that Salem Al-Dawsari has suffered from a hamstring injury. He will be undergoing a treatment and rehabilitation program that will last between four to six weeks," Al-Hilal said in a statement via X. This means Al-Dawsari will miss Monday's round of 16 clash against Manchester City. Al-Dawsari played a pivotal role in Al-Hilal's campaign in the Club World Cup, after scoring the opening goal in the team's 2-0 victory over Pachuca on Friday in the third round of the group stage. The win against Pachuca secured the four-times Asian champions qualification for the last 16 after they finished second in Group H behind Real Madrid.
