Al-Hilal faces a fresh injury crisis ahead of Saturday's Saudi Clasico against Al-Ittihad at the Kingdom Arena. With captain Salem Al-Dawsari already ruled out through an ankle complaint, Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been ruled out just hours before kick-off in the eighth round of the Roshn League.
The 29-year-old international suffered a calf muscle bruise during Serbia's recent international fixtures and failed medical assessments conducted during Friday's final training session. Al-Hilal's medical team made the precautionary decision to rest the midfielder rather than risk further damage in such a high-stakes fixture. This represents a significant blow to Italian manager Simone Inzaghi, who must now shuffle his midfield options with limited preparation time.
Stakes High for Al-Hilal's Title Push
The timing of these absences could prove decisive in the title race. Al-Hilal currently sit third in the Saudi League standings with 18 points, one point adrift of both Al-Qadsiah and Al-Nassr, though those rivals have played an additional match. A victory over their traditional adversaries would propel the Riyadh giants back into contention at the league's summit. The Clasico has historically been one of Saudi football's most competitive encounters, with both clubs possessing strong squad depth despite these enforced changes.
Inzaghi must now finalize his squad sheet immediately before kick-off, with alternative midfield solutions needed to compensate for Milinkovic-Savic's absence alongside Al-Dawsari's unavailability. How Al-Hilal respond to this double injury blow will be critical in determining whether they can maintain their challenge in what promises to be a closely contested season.
