In the eagerly awaited Riyadh derby of the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League season, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are set to ignite the pitch with their fierce rivalry at the iconic King Fahd International Stadium this Friday evening.
The anticipation is reaching a fever pitch as enthusiastic fans gear up for the showdown between the league leaders, Al-Hilal, and their closest rivals, Al-Nassr, who are hot on their heels in second place.
Al-Hilal's dominance in the league becomes even more remarkable when considering the absence of their Brazilian sensation Neymar, sidelined for the season due to a cruciate ligament tear. Despite this setback, the team has navigated the entire campaign with resilience.
Former Fulham striker Aleksander Mitrovic, a key player for Al-Hilal, is expected to rejoin the starting lineup after a brief respite in the midweek fixture against Navbahor. Mitrovic has been on an impressive scoring streak, finding the net in each of his last eight starts across all competitions.
Al-Hilal's possible starting lineup includes:
- Goalkeeper: Bounou
- Defenders: Koulibaly, Al Burayk, Al Bulayhi, Abdulhamid
- Midfielders: Neves, Kanno, Michael
- Forwards: Al Qahtani, Mitrovic, Malcom
The stakes are high for Al-Nassr, and the primary concern revolves around the fitness of their captain, Ronaldo. The skipper had to exit the field during their AFC Champions League encounter due to a neck injury. Additionally, David Ospina is dealing with an injury, making way for Nawaf Alaqidi to maintain his position between the goalposts for the visiting team.
Al-Nassr's possible starting lineup features:
- Goalkeeper: Alaqidi
- Defenders: Al-Boushal, Alawjami, Laporte, Telles
- Midfielders: Brozovic, Fofana, Otavio, Talisca, Mane
- Forward: Ronaldo