Al-Hilal Extend Seven-Point Lead With Comfortable 4-1 Victory Over Al-Fayha

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Al-Hilal stayed clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League, restoring a seven-point cushion with a 4-1 comeback win over Al-Fayha. The defending champions reacted to recent victories for Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli by overturning an early setback, as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Mohamed Kanno and Marcos Leonardo all scored, with Orlando Mosquera also conceding an own goal.

The visitors struck first after 14 minutes when Fashion Sakala punished Mohammed Al Yami’s mistake. The Al-Fayha forward reacted quickest to a weak punched clearance and finished into an empty goal. That setback left Al-Hilal chasing the game, yet the response from Simone Inzaghi’s side grew stronger as the first half progressed.

Milinkovic-Savic produced the equaliser on 37 minutes with a spectacular overhead finish. Al-Hilal then moved ahead before the interval from a set piece, when Mosquera came out to deal with a Ruben Neves free-kick but only diverted the ball into the goalkeeper’s own net, sending the hosts into half-time with a 2-1 advantage.

After the restart, Al-Hilal tightened control and created sustained pressure. Kanno extended the lead on 61 minutes, meeting another precise Neves delivery with a powerful header. The captain’s goal rewarded Al-Hilal’s dominance and left Al-Fayha needing a major shift in momentum to respond, which never arrived.

Leonardo completed the scoring on 90 minutes following a lively display. Neves again supplied the cross, and the Brazilian forward connected with a diving finish that left Mosquera stranded. That strike reflected Leonardo’s influence across the match and underlined the quality of service provided by Neves from midfield.

Leonardo’s finish also carried wider importance for Al-Hilal. The goal was Leonardo’s 25th in the Saudi Pro League for the club, and it arrived against the same opponents he first scored against in the competition back in October 2024. At 22 years and 261 days, Leonardo is the youngest Al-Hilal player to reach that total.

Team statistics further underlined Al-Hilal’s superiority over Al-Fayha across the contest. The hosts attempted 19 shots compared with nine for the visitors, finding the target on five occasions. Expected goals also favoured Inzaghi’s side, with Al-Hilal generating 1.89 xG against Al-Fayha’s 0.73, reflecting the clearer chances created.

Neves again delivered a standout display in the Saudi Pro League. The midfielder forced Mosquera’s own goal from a free-kick and recorded two assists from open play. It was the fourth time Neves has produced multiple assists in one league match since joining from Wolves in 2023, more than any other player, contributing four of 13 such games in that span.

The result keeps Al-Hilal firmly in control of the title race, maintaining a clear lead despite pressure from Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli. A strong collective performance, key contributions from Milinkovic-Savic, Kanno and Leonardo, plus Neves’ creativity, ensured the reigning champions answered that challenge with an authoritative display.