It’s a top of the table clash in Saudi Arabia as Al Hilal host Al Nassr in a huge derby matchup between superstars and super clubs.
Al Hilal, in spite of the devastating loss of huge summer signing Neymar, sit in pole position on 38 points through 14 matches, yet to suffer defeat this season. Al Nassr are just four points behind in second, perfect in league play dating back to their early-October draw with Abha, a run of five straight victories.
The match also pits the league’s top two goal scorers against one another, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrovic face off in the race for the Saudi Pro League golden boot award. Those two have led the charge in the league’s top two attacking sides, with the two clubs combining to score an incredible 82 goals this year through just 28 matches.
Both clubs feature star-studded lineups with a collection of European and South American talent. Who will emerge victorious and stake their early claim to the Saudi Pro League title?
MORE: How many goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored at Al Nassr this season?
The Sporting News is following the Al Hilal vs Al Nassr match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Al Hilal vs Al Nassr live score
Score (1H) Goal scorers Al Hilal 0 – Al Nassr 0 –
Kickoff: 9 p.m. local (1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT)
Location: King Fahd International Stadium (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Referee: Wilmar Roldan (COL)
Starting lineups:
Al Hilal (4-2-3-1, right to left): 37. Bounou (GK) — 66. Abdulhamid, 3. Koulibaly, 5. Al-Boleahi, 2. Burayk — 8. Neves, 22. Milinkovic-Savic — 96. Michael, 77. Malcolm, 29. Al-Dawsari — 9. Mitrovic.
Al Nassr (4-2-3-1, right to left): 44. Alaqidi (GK) — 2. Al Ghanam, 78. Lajami, 27. Laporte, 15. Telles — 6. Fofana, 77. Brozovic — 94. Talisca, 25. Otavio, 10. Mane — 7. Ronaldo.
Al Hilal vs Al Nassr live updates, highlights, commentary
Al Hilal vs Al Nassr: First Half
14th min: Chance, Al Hilal! WHAT…JUST HAPPENED?! It seemed as if Al Nassr had handled an Al Hilal attack no problem, but suddenly they almost conceded the silliest goal! An Al Nassr defender passed to his own goalkeeper right on the end line, but Nawaf Alaqidi’s clearance slams off Aleksandar Mitrovic!
It deflects right to Michael, who has literally the entire goal to shoot at, but somehow he put it right back into the chest of a relieved Alaqidi who managed to recover in time to slide over and make the save! How embarrassing that would have been to concede in such a manner! Meanwhile, that’s three glorious chances Al Hilal have failed to convert!
We can’t be making these silly mistakes!pic.twitter.com/Pqk85Wx7qZ
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) December 1, 2023
11th min: Chance, Al Nassr! Anderson Talisca nearly scores against the run of play! As the ball looks to be running away from him vertically, he manages to poke his boot at it, attempting to chip the goalkeeper, and comes so close to doing just that, but it clips just over the crossbar!
What a lively match this has been so far!
9th min: Al Hilal are absolutely shredding Al Nassr on the counter. It’s been a problem for Al Nassr all season, and it’s proving extra problematic today. They cannot handle the hosts when they play in transition.
4th min: Chance, Al Hilal! HOW HAS SALEM AL DAWSARI MISSED?!?! Al Hilal have three men wide open for a point-blank shot, as the Al Nassr defence is totally out of sorts, but Al Dawsari blasts the chance miles over the crossbar! Oh dear, he has to score there, it’s an awful miss!
3rd min: Chance, Al Hilal! Aleksandar Mitrovic comes so close to giving the hosts a very early lead! Al Hilal break but Marcelo Brozovic does just enough to force the ball to Mitrovic out wide. The former Fulham man cuts back in and works space by his defender one-on-one, but his tight angle shot is dragged inches wide! That’s not far!
Kickoff: The Riyadh derby is under way! It looks like King Fahd International Stadium is on fire with how many flares are lit in the crowd!
Both sets of fans have put on a show for the #RiyadhDerby 😮 #yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/KVGPhYDCmL
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 1, 2023 Al Hilal vs Al Nassr: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more
20 mins to kickoff: Those boos you hear at King Fahd International Stadium aren’t jeers at all. No, it’s the home crowd welcoming their goalkeeper to the pitch.
A warm welcome for Yassine Bono 🇲🇦👏 #yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/FJ4drjI6fG
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 1, 2023
40 mins to kickoff: Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves has been the subject of transfer rumors in the past few months. After joining the Saudi club in the summer, some clubs in desperate need of midfielders have watched his performances for Al Hilal and noticed he is still at the top of his game. Injury-stricken clubs like Barcelona have come calling, but it seems they will have to look elsewhere, according to reports.
🚨❌ Despite rumors, Ruben #Neves is unlikely to leave #AlHilal in January.
📌 The 🇸🇦 club has not received offers so far and the 🇵🇹 player has no intention of saying goodbye. 🐓⚽️ #Transfers pic.twitter.com/pI44vq1tKB
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) November 28, 2023
1 hour to kickoff: Now the Al Nassr lineup has been submitted, and as expected, Cristiano Ronaldo has proven fit to play from the opening whistle. Seko Fofana gets the nod in midfield next to Marcelo Brozovic, chosen over Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Ali Al-Hassan despite his recent lack of playing time.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival to the derby. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/xnHXaGN7Gq
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) December 1, 2023
1 hour 15 mins to kick: The Al Hilal starting lineup is out already, and it’s as star-studded as expected. Aleksandar Mitrovic starts up front, with Michael, Malcolm, and Salem Al-Dawsari all in support, plus the midfield pivot of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ruben Neves. A formidable XI!
The fans are getting ready for the #RiyadhDerby! 👍🤳#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/LJCo0OFtlF
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 1, 2023
1 hour 30 mins to kick: Al Nassr today will go with its all yellow getup, the first time they’ve worn that look since last time they met Al Hilal, a 2-1 come-from-behind victory sparked by a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.
THE LAST TIME Cristiano Ronaldo played Al Hilal he did this. 🔥pic.twitter.com/p7smfUW2gM
— The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7) December 1, 2023
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Cristiano Ronaldo was withdrawn after 78 minutes against Persepolis midweek after a neck injury forced him off, but word is he’ll be fit to play today.
“The medical team is studying the injury and will do everything to make sure he is ready for the next game,” said manager Luis Castro after the match.
2 hours to kickoff: This game features the two most in-form goalscorers in Saudi Arabia. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the league in scoring with 15 goals through 12 games, but Aleksandar Mitrovic is second with 10 goals in one less match played.
Mitrovic has helped Al Nassr overcome the demoralising injury to Neymar, which could have destroyed the team’s season before it really even began. A video has surfaced of Mitrovic calling Ronaldo “the best player ever” but that hasn’t stopped him from competing against the Portuguese star to the end.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (When he was at Fulham):
“Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player ever, so I’ll try to get his shirt.”
pic.twitter.com/GQomqPmb0V
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) November 30, 2023
Al Hilal vs Al Nassr lineups, team news
Al Hilal have a host of injuries to work around, most notably the devastating ACL tear suffered by expensive star signing Neymar a month ago.
Top Saudi internationals Mohammed Al Owais and Salem Al-Dawsari are also carrying injuries, but the former has backed up World Cup hero Yassine Bounou this season anyways, while the latter started in the midweek AFC Champions League game and could be rotated out for Michael as he continues to recover.
Malcom and Aleksandar Mitrovic both came off the bench in that midweek win over Namangan, but should both come back into the starting lineup for league play.
Al Hilal starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Bounou (GK) — Abdulhamid, Koulibaly, Al-Boleahi, Burayk — Neves, Milinkovic-Savic — S. Al Dawsari, Malcolm, Michael— Mitrovic.
Al Hilal subs (9): Al Wutaian (GK), K. Al Dawsari, Jahfali, Al-Faraj, Al-Juwayr, Kanno, Al-Malki, Al-Hamdan, Al-Shehri.
Luis Castro has not flagged up any fresh injury concerns after Al Nassr’s 0-0 AFC Champions League draw at home to Persepolis. Ali Lajami faces an incoming ban for that competition thanks to his red card, but he is available for league action, and Abdullah Al-Khaibari could earn a recall.
Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted off in the draw with Persepolis after suffering a neck injury, but he’s likely to be available today. The same goes for Aymeric Laporte who is carrying a foot injury but is expected to be ready for action.
Al Nassr starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Alaqidi (GK) — Al Ghanam, Lajami, Laporte, Telles — Fofana, Brozovic — Talisca, Otavio, Mane — Ronaldo.
Al Nassr subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch Al Hilal vs Al Nassr
TV channel Streaming USA Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Deportes Fubo, Fox Sports app/website Australia — 10 Play Canada — DAZN UK DAZN 1 DAZN India — JioTV, Sony LIV New Zealand — Shahid Malaysia — Shahid Singapore — Shahid Hong Kong — Shahid