Capital city spoils shared: 5 things we learned from Riyadh derby between Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab

Carlos Junior celebrates scoring Al-Shabab's equalizer against Al-Hilal. (Twitter: @AlShababSaudiFC)
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Updated 11 October 2022
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Capital city spoils shared: 5 things we learned from Riyadh derby between Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab

  • Despite dropping their first points of the season, leaders Al-Shabab will be happier with the 1-1 draw

The Riyadh Derby ended 1-1 on Monday, as the reigning champions and current leaders showed that there is not much to choose between them this early in the Roshn Saudi League season.

Moussa Marega put Al-Hilal ahead in the first half, before Carlos Junior struck early in the second to give Al-Shabab a draw that keeps them top with 19 points from seven games. They are four ahead of Al-Tai in second though both Al-Ittihad and Al-Taawoun could reduce the gap at the top to two points if they win on Tuesday. Al-Hilal are currently in fourth.

1. Al-Shabab the happier of the two teams

The leaders may have dropped points for the first time this season and it may now be 19 games since they last beat their Riyadh rivals, but they will probably be a little happier at the stalemate. Al-Hilal had more chances to score and also saw a second half penalty saved by Kim Seung-gyu. In short, the champions just about deserved to win the game, so for Al-Shabab coming back from a goal down and saving a spot kick will be satisfactory.

It was Al-Hilal who were the more desperate to win going into the game. For most teams, going three games without victory is not even a blip but for Asian football’s winning machine, it is almost a full-blown crisis. The draw also means that they are still five points behind the leaders.

Al-Shabab will see it as a test that was passed and with a home game against newly promoted Al-Khaleej to end this first stage of the season, will be confident of going into the World Cup break with 22 points from eight games. That’s title-winning form.

2. Diaz feeling the pressure

After the game, Al-Hilal boss Ramon Diaz pointed to the injuries that have robbed his team of stars including Salman Al-Faraj, Salem Al-Dawsari and Matheus Pereira and he has a point; and he also had a point in that the champions should have won. It was not a bad performance and had Odion Ighalo scored from the spot early in the second half to make it 2-0, it would probably have been three points and second place.

But it wasn’t and excuses don’t carry much weight when it comes to the most successful team in Saudi Arabian and Asian football. Diaz said that fans will really see what the team is made of when the injury situation improves but unless things get better, he may not be around when that happens.

The Argentine knows that he has to win against Al-Tai on Saturday otherwise, with the World Cup break coming up, he may well find himself out of a job. That is just the way things are at the club. The heroics of last season are in the past. After all, Diaz replaced Leonardo Jardim less than three months after the Portuguese coach led Al-Hilal to a record fourth Asian Champions League title.

3. Kim the hero for Al-Shabab

Since signing for Al-Shabab in the summer, South Korea’s No. 1 Kim Seung-gyu has had to pick the ball out of the back of the net just once in the first six games of the season.

Perhaps the international goalkeeper was slightly disappointed to be beaten at his near post by Marega in the first half, even if it was a fierce shot from close range. If so, he redeemed himself early in the second half. If Ighalo had scored from the spot to extend Al-Hilal’s lead, it would have more than likely been game over, and the whole conversation surrounding both clubs would now be very different.

Kim had other ideas and got down very well, low to his right, to push the ball out for a corner, from which he made another fine save, tipping over a shot from Michael.

Shortly after, Carlos equalized and instead of 2-0 it was 1-1. Goalkeepers don’t often make the headlines but Kim’s save was the difference between a defeat that would have been a blow to Al-Shabab’s confidence and raised doubts over their title credentials, and a battling draw that keeps them nicely placed.

4. It was a proper derby

Derbies can be cagey with teams more concerned about not losing than risking being too aggressive in search of a win. An outside observer may have expected two defenses, who had conceded a combined total of just three goals in their six games so far, to have been happy to sit back and let the backlines do their thing. That was not the case here with both teams looking to win.

Al-Hilal were especially quick out of the starting blocks, as the contest quickly became an entertaining one. It was end-to-end stuff. Marega had a shout for an early penalty for handball while Santi Mina probably should have done better than his low shot that just brushed the outside of the Al-Hilal post. There were last-ditch tackles, delicious through balls and plenty going on.

These are two of the best teams in Asia and they provided a fine advert for the Saudi Professional League.

5. Al-Tai now above Al-Hilal and now a crunch match

Objectively, Al-Hilal’s start to the season has not been bad at all as the champions have taken 14 points from seven games, a solid platform from which to move up into the next gear and mount a title challenge. Yet they are now below their next opponents Al-Tai, the team that struggled against relegation for much of last season and only finished four points above the drop zone.

Now, after a 2-0 win at Al-Raed, that started with a fine header from Guy Mbenza who grabbed his second goal of the season, Al-Tai are flying. What was even more impressive is that the team played the second half with 10 men but still kept their two-goal advantage and a clean sheet. Relegation should not be an issue this season and they currently sit in an unlikely second spot.

They go into their clash against Al-Hilal on Friday full of confidence and who knows what will happen?

And if Al-Taawoun, another relegation candidate from last season, as expected beat Abha on Tuesday, they will move three points clear of Al-Hilal, and possibly ahead of Al-Tai into second.

It is shaping up to be a very interesting season indeed.


Shami returns to India squad for England T20s after year absence

Updated 57 min 13 sec ago
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Shami returns to India squad for England T20s after year absence

  • Shami, 34, last played for India in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023
  • Shami, who underwent heel surgery, was expected to join India in Australia in December but missed the 3-1 Test series loss

NEW DELHI: Fast bowler Mohammed Shami on Saturday returned to India’s squad for the upcoming T20 international series against England after more than a year’s break due to injury.
Shami, 34, last played for India in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023 and recently participated in a few domestic matches to mark his return to competitive cricket.
Shami, who underwent heel surgery, was expected to join India in Australia in December but missed the 3-1 Test series loss.
He is part of a 15-member squad for the five T20 matches against England starting January 22 in Kolkata.
White-ball star Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team with spin bowler Axar Patel as his deputy.
Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah is missing with doubts over his participation in the following three ODI matches with the touring England team due to an injury he suffered in the final Australia Test.
India are yet to announce the squad for the ODI Champions Trophy starting next month with the deadline to announce the provisional squad for the tournament on Sunday.
India T20 squad to face England: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk).


New-look Pakistan squad announced for West Indies Test series

Updated 11 January 2025
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New-look Pakistan squad announced for West Indies Test series

  • Pakistan will host West Indies for the first time in 19 years, with both Tests held in Multan
  • Shan Masood is retained as skipper despite Pakistan losing both the Tests in South Africa

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan selectors Saturday recalled opener Imam-ul-Haq in a new look squad for the two-match Test series against the West Indies starting next week.
The 29-year old Imam has played 24 Tests for Pakistan but was dropped over poor form after a 3-0 defeat in Australia early last year.
The selectors have also named three uncapped players in opener Muhammad Hurraira, wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir and pacer Kashif Ali on the back of their good performances in domestic matches.
Pakistan will host the visitors for the first time in 19 years, with both Tests held in Multan, starting from January 17 and January 25.
Shan Masood is retained as skipper despite Pakistan losing both the Tests in South Africa last week.
Besides Masood, Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, and Salman Ali Agha kept their places from the South Africa series.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed have been recalled to partner with left-arm spinner Noman Ali.
Noman and Sajid took 29 wickets in Pakistan’s 2-1 win over England last year.
Injured opener Saim Ayub is also left out of the Pakistan squad for the West Indies Tests.
Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha.


Captain Alexander-Arnold leads Liverpool cruise into FA Cup 4th round

Updated 11 January 2025
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Captain Alexander-Arnold leads Liverpool cruise into FA Cup 4th round

  • The England international was named captain in the absence of Virgil van Dijk
  • Slot made eight changes after suffering just his second defeat in charge of the Reds

LIVERPOOL: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning strike lit up Liverpool’s 4-0 win over League Two Accrington Stanley to cruise into the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.
The England international was named captain in the absence of Virgil van Dijk in a much-changed side named by Arne Slot and led by example after a being criticized for his display in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United last weekend.
Slot made eight changes after suffering just his second defeat in charge of the Reds in Wednesday’s League Cup semifinal first leg against Tottenham.
The Dutchman had warned the Premier League leaders that a trip to Anfield would be Accrington’s “Champions League final.”
A mammoth 86 league positions behind Liverpool in the 92-team English league system, Stanley held out for nearly half an hour.
Diogo Jota was left with a simple task to tap in from Darwin Nunez’s low cross to open the floodgates.
Alexander-Arnold then stepped forward to double the lead with a sumptuous hit into the top corner from outside the box.
Jayden Danns made the most of just his second appearance of the season to fire in the third 14 minutes from time.
Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool career has so far failed to get going due to injury problems.
But the Italian took advantage of some rare game time to net his first goal for the club with a long range strike in off the far post.
“It was surreal,” said Accrington forward and Liverpool fan Josh Woods.
“They are world-class players and on the counter it is hard to stop.”
Manchester City also face fourth-tier opposition later against Salford City, who are owned by a group of former Manchester United greats.
Investment from David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt have helped Salford rise through the non-league ranks since their involvement began in 2014.
Chelsea host Morecambe of League Two in another David against Goliath tie.
Another celebrity co-owner in the lower leagues of English football is already into round four as NFL legend Tom Brady’s Birmingham beat Lincoln 2-1.
Wolves’ bright start under new boss Vitor Pereira continued as early goals from Rayan Aït-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes secured a 2-1 win at Bristol City.
Blackburn won an all-Championship clash 1-0 at Middlesbrough thanks to Andi Weimann’s winner.


New Red Bull football boss Klopp in stands for Paris FC game

Updated 11 January 2025
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New Red Bull football boss Klopp in stands for Paris FC game

  • Klopp happily posed for selfies alongside Pierre Ferracci, the president of the Parisian club
  • The former solid Ligue 1 leaders, Paris FC have had a bad start to the year

PARIS: Jurgen Klopp, the new global head of football at Red Bull, a minority shareholder in French club Paris FC, on Saturday watched from the stands during a French Ligue 2 game against Amiens.
Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp has just started a new role with Red Bull which owns clubs RB Leipzig, Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.
Klopp happily posed for selfies alongside Pierre Ferracci, the president of the Parisian club which was sold to the family of France’s richest person Bernard Arnault and Red Bull two months ago.
The former solid Ligue 1 leaders, Paris FC have had a bad start to the year with consecutive defeats and are now third.
Klopp is due to speak for the first time since taking office on Tuesday at the Red Bull headquarters near Salzburg in Austria.
The 57-year-old won back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Dortmund before moving to Liverpool. At the Reds, Klopp won several major trophies, including the Champions League and Premier League.
Klopp’s appointment has however caused controversy, particularly in Germany where some fans are critical of the energy drink brand’s ownership of Leipzig, as well as multi-club models in general.


Real, Barca managers raise stakes ahead of Jeddah El Clasico

Updated 11 January 2025
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Real, Barca managers raise stakes ahead of Jeddah El Clasico

  • Ancelotti: ‘We are very excited and confident as always in the finals’
  • Flick hoping to win first major trophy as Barcelona manager

Jeddah: Coaches Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid and Hansi Flick of Barcelona held press conferences before the final match of the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah on Jan. 12.

Ancelotti spoke to the media at King Abdullah Sports City on Saturday, and discussed the match and preparation of his squad.

“We are very excited and confident as always in the finals. We are facing a great team and we know exactly how tough this Clasico match is,” he said.

On losing to Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season, the Italian said: “We had a good game in the first half but the game later in the second half went down. Therefore, we have to avoid the mistakes we made.

“A Clasico is always a Clasico, even more so if it’s a final. Playing against Barcelona is always something special.”

He added: “If there’s a defeat, it’s a defeat. It’s the final; we’re very close to another title and we’re thinking positively.”

Ancelotti confirmed that in-form Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham will be fit and available for the clash.

“He is fine; he has recovered well. It was a normal load from matches. It’s very important because he’s on a good run. He is a player who has made a difference,” the manager said.

“Barcelona are always a historic rival and playing against them is very complicated; you can’t predict the result. We will try to do our best and try to win another title.”

Flick told the media that he hopes to win his first major trophy as Barcelona manager.

He described Real Madrid as a “great team,” adding: “We are fully prepared for them tomorrow night and hope we can perform better than what we did against Mallorca.

“We created many mistakes and we need to reduce them tomorrow night. Madrid is one of the best teams in the world in transition and they take advantage of any option you give them.”

The Dutchman confirmed that Dani Olmo is “very excited to play again.” 

Since the Spanish Super Cup was moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020, Real Madrid and Barcelona have delivered unforgettable showdowns.

Of the five editions held in Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid have claimed three titles (2020, 2022 and 2024), while the Catalans have won once (2023). Athletic Club triumphed in 2021, rounding out the winners of the new era.