Saudi Pro League 2025-2026: Al Fayha-Al Hilal, the likely lineups.
Wednesday night at 8 p.m. at the King Abdullah Sports City field in Buraidah there is only one possible outcome for Al Hilal, and that is to win and hope for a misstep by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. The Simone Inzaghi-led team will play its entire season in the next ninety minutes at the Al Fayha ground. If the home lineup, with the presence of former Roma player Smalling, is now quiet after already clinching safety, for the blue and white the tension is sky-high. Al Hilal, two lengths off the top, must necessarily win and hope their rivals do not go beyond a draw. In that case they would both go to a tie on points, which would reward Inzaghi himself thanks to favorable direct clashes, giving them a very resounding qunate historic championship finale.
The hosts want to close with honor in front of their home crowd. In front of Mosquera, the defensive line will rest on Englishman Smalling alongside Al Rashidi. The midfield dam will consist of Kaabi and Alfa Semedo, while on the three-quarter will act the flair of Benzia along with the dangerous Fashion Sakala, author of 16 goals this season. Going forward, Radif remains favored in the runoff with Ganvoula.
Inzaghi must forgo the injured Benzema and redesign his team. With Bono between the posts, Ruben Neves will drop back to the line of central defenders along with Tambakti and Al Harbi. A quality midfield with Milinkovic-Savic and Al Dawsari to invent and former Milan player Theo Hernandez absolute master of the left lane. The weight of the attack will be all on the shoulders of the Brazilian pair composed of Malcom and the offensive terminal Marcos Leonardo.
Probable formations
Al Fayha (4-2-3-1): Mosquera; Al Baqawi, Smalling, Al Rashidi, Bamsaud; Kaabi, Alfa Semedo; Dahal, Benzia, Sakala; Radif. All. Pedro Emanuel.
Al Hilal (3-5-2): Bono; Tambakti, R. Neves, Al Harbi; Mandash, Milinkovic-Savic, N. Al Dawsari, Kanno, Theo Hernandez; Malcom, Marcos Leonardo. All. S. Inzaghi.
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