Five-goal Al Shabab haul gives Savic new Al Hilal landmark

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic continued his outstanding start to the Roshn Saudi League season by scoring against Al Shabab for the fifth time, setting a new personal record for goals against a single opponent in the competition.

The Al Hilal midfielder opened the scoring in the 53rd minute during Friday’s fifth-round meeting with Al Shabab at SHG Arena in Riyadh.

Milinkovic-Savic finished from close range after converting a low cross from Al Hilal full-back Mohammed Mahzari, giving his side the lead.

It was the Serbia international’s fourth league goal of the season and his fourth in as many matches. He had already scored once in each of Al Hilal’s previous three Roshn Saudi League fixtures.

The run represents Milinkovic-Savic’s best start since joining Al Hilal from Lazio during the summer transfer window of 2023.

His latest goal also underlined his strong record in the Riyadh derby against Al Shabab. The 31-year-old has now scored five times against them in the Roshn Saudi League, making Al Shabab his most productive opponent in the competition.

According to Opta, Milinkovic-Savic has moved ahead of his record against Al-Okhdood, against whom he has scored four goals. His five goals against Al Shabab have come from 10 shots on target.

The Serbian remains Al Hilal’s leading scorer in the Roshn Saudi League this season. He is also second in the overall scoring chart, two goals behind Al Ahli forward Ivan Toney.

Milinkovic-Savic’s goal came as Al Hilal visited Al Shabab in the fifth round of the league campaign, with the match taking place at the Saudi capital’s SHG Arena.

The midfielder’s latest milestone adds to a sequence that has made him one of the most effective scorers in the league during the opening weeks of the season. He had not previously made a better start to a campaign with Al Hilal since arriving from Lazio.

His record against Al Shabab is now unmatched among his league totals against individual opponents. The five-goal haul places them one goal clear of Al-Okhdood, the next team on his list.

Al Hilal’s forward momentum has therefore been driven in part by the goals of a player whose primary role is in midfield. Milinkovic-Savic’s fourth consecutive league match with a goal has also taken him to the top of his club’s scoring standings in the competition.

With two fewer goals than Toney in the league’s overall race, he is also firmly among the leading scorers in the Roshn Saudi League.