Al Hilal have been boosted by the return of Moroccan international Yassine Bounou ahead of their Saudi Pro League clash against Al Ettifaq.
The Kingdom Arena is set to host a thrilling showdown this Friday evening as Al-Hilal take on Al-Ettifaq in the 22nd round of the Saudi Roshan League for the 2025–26 season.
Al-Hilal head into the clash full of confidence after bouncing back from a string of draws with a sensational 6-0 victory over Al-Akhdoud. The match was highlighted by a stunning display from French forward Karim Benzema, who scored his first hat-trick in the Al-Hilal jersey, signaling his return to top scoring form at a crucial stage of the campaign.
For Al-Ettifaq, the task ahead is far from easy. While the team has shown steady improvement in results and performances as the season has progressed, recent encounters with Al-Hilal have been challenging. The Dammam side has failed to secure a win in their last five meetings with the Riyadh giants, including a crushing 5-0 defeat in the first round, making Friday’s clash an uphill battle as they aim to break their recent run of frustrations.
The matchup promises high intensity, with Al-Hilal eager to consolidate their position at the top of the table and Al-Ettifaq looking to make a statement against one of the league’s dominant forces.
Prior to the match, Al Hilal have been handed a massive injury boost, as Morocco goalkeeper Bounou returns for the Al Ettifaq showdown.
Bounou, who recently guided Morocco to the AFCON 2025 final has recovered from his shoulder injury and showed full readiness at training on Thursday as the team gears up for the Ettifaq clash.
The former Sevilla shot stopper had missed Al Hilal’s match against Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE, which was held in Dubai and ended in a goalless draw (0-0), as part of the seventh round of the West Group competitions in the AFC Champions League Elite, which raised some concern within the team before their readiness was confirmed.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper has made 12 appearances in the Saudi Pro League this season, conceding 11 goals and keeping 6 clan sheets across the period.
