Al Hilal secured a crucial 2-1 victory against Al Khaleej on May 5, 2026, at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam. This win tightens the title race in the Saudi Pro League as they close in on league leaders Al Nassr.
Joshua King opened the scoring for Al Khaleej in the 11th minute. However, Al Hilal responded quickly. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic equalized for Al Hilal in the 34th minute. The match turned decisively in favor of Al Hilal when Sultan Mandash scored the winning goal in the 79th minute.
Al Hilal’s performance was notable for its attacking prowess. They produced 1.65 expected goals from 22 shots. In contrast, Al Khaleej managed only 0.63 expected goals from their 6 shots. Karim Benzema had a goal disallowed for offside during stoppage time, which could have added to their lead.
This victory marks Al Hilal’s third consecutive league win. They have scored 13 goals in their last five matches, demonstrating a potent offense under coach Simone Inzaghi. Currently, Al Hilal sits just two points behind league leaders Al Nassr.
On the other hand, Al Khaleej has struggled this season, losing 17 points from winning positions. They currently sit in 11th place in the Saudi Pro League standings, reflecting their inconsistency.
The result is significant for both teams as they navigate the final stretch of the season. With only a few matches left, every point counts towards their respective goals — title contention for Al Hilal and survival for Al Khaleej.
This match adds pressure to both teams as they prepare for upcoming fixtures. Fans will be keenly watching how this affects their trajectories as the season draws to a close.
