Al-Hilal extended their dominance at the top of the Saudi Roshn League with a commanding 2-0 victory over local rivals Al-Shabab on Friday night at the SHG Arena. The win marked the fifth consecutive triumph for the Zaeem and proved a memorable occasion for new Brazilian signing Gabriel Martinelli, who made his debut coming off the bench in the second half.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, converting a low cross from full-back Mohammed Mahzari into the bottom corner. The Serbian midfielder's composed finish gave Al-Hilal control of the Riyadh derby at a crucial stage. Ruben Neves sealed the result seven minutes from time, dispatching a penalty with precision to the goalkeeper's left. The Portuguese midfielder's clinical conversion extended Al-Hilal's unbeaten record and emphasized their commanding form this season.
New Arrivals Make Impact at Al-Hilal
Friday's fixture represented a significant milestone for two high-profile signings. Ollie Watkins, the England international recruited from Aston Villa, made his first start after appearing as a substitute in Al-Hilal's 3-0 rout of Al-Ahli three days earlier. Martinelli, who transferred from Arsenal just 24 hours before kickoff, entered the action in the 67th minute to replace Sultan Mandash. The quick integration of both players underlines Al-Hilal's ambitions to dominate the Saudi Pro League this campaign.
The victory elevated Al-Hilal to 15 points atop the table, establishing a three-point cushion over nearest challengers Al-Nassr, who prepare for their own heavyweight fixture against Al-Ittihad on Saturday. In contrast, Al-Shabab's defeat left them languishing in 13th place with just three points from five matches, extending their winless streak to five games. Al-Hilal's relentless start represents one of Saudi football's most dominant openings in recent seasons, setting a formidable standard for rivals to match.
