Saudi Pro League Leaders Al-Hilal See Winning Streak Halted By Al-Riyadh In 1-1 Draw

Al-Hilal dropped league points for only the third time this Saudi Pro League season, drawing 1-1 away to Al-Riyadh, as the leaders’ long winning run ended despite heavy pressure in the closing stages.

Simone Inzaghi’s team had arrived on a 13-match league winning streak, stretching back to September, and were expected to ease past 16th-place Al-Riyadh, who are fighting to stay clear of relegation danger near the bottom of the table.

Al-Hilal appeared on course for another victory when Marcos Leonardo finished calmly on 26 minutes, the goal standing after a VAR review confirmed the forward had stayed onside, but Al-Riyadh responded from a set piece and then survived intense pressure for the rest of the contest.

The equaliser arrived on 58 minutes when Ibrahim Bayesh reacted quickest to a corner from Toze and forced the ball over the line, scoring with what turned out to be Al-Riyadh’s final attempt of the match as the hosts retreated deeper.

Al-Riyadh then had to cope with more than 10 minutes of stoppage time with 10 players after Marzouq Tambakti collected a second yellow card, while Al-Hilal struck the woodwork through Salem Al Dawsari and also had a potential winner ruled out for offside.

Despite the draw feeling like a missed opportunity for the leaders, the numbers underlined Al-Riyadh’s defensive effort, as Al-Hilal produced 13 shots but generated only 1.67 expected goals, while the hosts created four attempts yet still found a way to score from a scrappy situation.

Marcos Leonardo’s strike, rolled into an empty net, carried 0.79 xG and was the forward’s only effort, while Darwin Nunez recorded three shots but hit the target just once on a frustrating outing for Inzaghi’s side against disciplined opponents.

For Al-Riyadh, this hard-earned point against the Saudi Pro League leaders will feel almost like a victory, while Al-Hilal remain clear at the top but lose some momentum after their long sequence of wins was halted by a team still battling to avoid relegation.