Carrasco’s treble sets Al Shabab on course for record-breaking victory over Al Ahli

Yannick Carrasco scored a hat-trick and provided another goal as Al Shabab swept aside Al Ahli 6-1 in the Saudi Pro League’s mini clasico.

The Belgian winger was the outstanding player at SHG Arena in Riyadh on Friday, helping Al Shabab claim a dominant victory in their matchday 12 meeting with Al Ahli.

Carrasco opened his account in the 26th minute with a superb free-kick, beating Al Ahli’s young substitute goalkeeper Abdullah Abduh to put Al Shabab 2-0 ahead.

He then turned provider three minutes after the restart. Carrasco delivered a cross towards Brazilian forward Ricardo Matias, who headed the ball into the net to score Al Shabab’s fourth goal.

The 32-year-old added his second of the afternoon in the 66th minute from the penalty spot. The kick had been awarded after Colombian striker Roger Martinez was brought down by Al Ahli defender Muhammad Suleiman Bakr.

Bakr was involved in the decisive moment again in the 82nd minute, this time conceding a penalty after bringing down Carrasco. The Al Shabab winger converted to complete his hat-trick and round off the six-goal win.

It was the second hat-trick of Carrasco’s Saudi Pro League career. According to Opta, he had previously scored three times in a match against Al Riyadh in February.

His performance also placed him in the history of the fixture. Carrasco became only the second player to score a hat-trick in the Al Ahli-Al Shabab mini clasico since the 2009-10 season.

The only previous player to achieve that feat was Mohamed Benyettou, who scored three goals for Al Shabab against Al Ahli in September 2016.

Carrasco now has six goals in the Saudi Pro League this season, moving into contention in the race for the golden boot. Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney leads the scoring chart with 13 goals.

The result leaves Carrasco’s Al Shabab with a major boost from a match in which they scored six times against one of the league’s leading sides, while Al Ahli suffered a heavy defeat on home territory.

Al Ahli are scheduled to face Al Sadd in the AFC Champions League Elite on 02 November 2026 before meeting Abha in the Saudi Pro League on 05 November 2026.