Al Hilal secured a dominating 5-1 victory against Al Khlood on February 26, 2025, rejuvenated their ambitions within the Saudi Pro League by marking their first win after three matches without victory. The win saw Al Hilal climb to second place on the league table with 51 points, trailing the leaders, Al Ittihad, who have 56 points.
Malcolm set the tone for the match with a header just three minutes in, followed swiftly by Salem Al-Dossari scoring the second goal just one minute later. The early onslaught continued when Malcolm found the back of the net again with another skillful strike at the 20-minute mark. Marcus Leonardo added to the tally with a header at the 28-minute marker, leaving Al Khlood struggling to respond.
Al Khlood managed to break through Al Hilal’s defense with Abdul Rahman Al-Safri capitalizing on defensive errors, scoring their only goal during the 65th minute. Despite this, the match remained firmly under Al Hilal’s control, culminating with another goal from Al-Dossari straight from the penalty area at the 80th minute.
Meanwhile, Al Ittihad had their own rollercoaster match against Al Khaleej on the same night, which ended with both teams sharing the points at 1-1. The match proved tense as it featured numerous defensive interventions and counter-attacks. Al Ittihad's Abdul Rahman Al-Aboud scored the opener for his team at the 78th minute, latching onto the ball following some confusion within Al Khaleej's defense.
Just as it seemed Al Ittihad would secure the full three points, the match took a dramatic turn when Al Khaleej was awarded a penalty during stoppage time. Kostas Fortounis made no mistake, converting the penalty to equalize the margin at 1-1 just before the final whistle blew.
Following these matches, the league table paints a compelling picture: Al Ittihad remains on top with 56 points after 22 matches, keeping them five points clear of rivals Al Hilal. The pressure mounts on both teams as the season heads toward its final stretch, with Al Hilal pushing hard to close the gap.
The Saudi Pro League continues to serve up excitement, as the battle for the title intensifies, alongside various teams jostling for positions. Both Al Hilal and Al Ittihad represent the pinnacle of competitive spirit within the league this season.