Yassine Bounou’s form at Al-Hilal has taken a downturn, with the Moroccan goalkeeper struggling to replicate his impressive performances from earlier in the season.
The 32-year-old had enjoyed a stellar campaign until January, earning his third Saudi Pro League Best Goalkeeper of the Month award following previous wins in October and December. However, February has seen a sharp dip in his fortunes.
Bounou’s difficult run began on 18 February when he was unexpectedly benched against Al Wasl in a 2-0 victory.
He returned to the starting line-up against Al-Ittihad but endured a torrid night, conceding four goals in a 4-1 defeat, with Karim Benzema playing a starring role.
Further setbacks followed as Al-Hilal suffered a 1-0 loss to Al Kholood on 25 February, with Bounou failing to keep a clean sheet.
The slump continued on Friday when the Moroccan conceded three goals in a 3-2 defeat to Al-Ahli, including a hat-trick from Ivan Toney.
The recent run has seen Bounou concede eight goals in two weeks, a stark contrast to his previous consistency.
Before February, he had conceded just 20 goals in 18 appearances, averaging 1.11 goals per game with five clean sheets and a 59.1% save rate.
Despite Al-Hilal remaining top of the league, Bounou’s form has become a cause for concern.
His absence against Al Wasl appeared to unsettle him, with confidence — a crucial attribute for goalkeepers — seemingly affected.
As the title race heats up, Bounou will be under pressure to rediscover his best form and help Al-Hilal maintain their grip on the Saudi Pro League.
Yassine Bounou n’a que 5 clean sheets cette saison avec Al Hilal. 🧤
Problème défensif ou baisse de forme de notre gardien national ? 🤔🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/uvfMjsq5mC
— FRMF Xtra (@FRMFXtra) February 28, 2025
