Inzaghi’s Al-Hilal Lose Top Spot After Unbeaten Start | Saudi League Update

Al-Hilal Cedes Top Spot in Saudi Pro League After Draw with Al-Ittihad

RIYADH – Al-Hilal relinquished their position atop the Saudi Pro League table following a 1-1 draw against Al-Ittihad on Thursday, February 21, 2026. The result allowed Al-Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, to overtake Simone Inzaghi’s side after securing a dominant victory over Al-Hazem. Despite playing with a numerical advantage for over 80 minutes, Al-Hilal were unable to secure the win.

The match at Kingdom Arena saw Al-Hilal take an early lead in the 5th minute. Karim Benzema, facing his former club, released Salem Al Dawsari, whose cross was converted by Malcom. Just four minutes later, the complexion of the game changed dramatically when Al-Ittihad’s Hassen Kadish received a straight red card after a professional foul on Malcom, confirmed by VAR.

Despite the red card, and enjoying a significant period with an extra player, Al-Hilal struggled to capitalize. Theo Hernandez had a shot hit the side-netting, and Benzema was denied a goal from close range. The deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute by Al-Ittihad, when Houssem Aouar headed in a cross from Muhannad Al Shanqiti.

Al-Hilal continued to press for a winner. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic headed narrowly wide, and Hernandez was again thwarted from a tight angle. However, the hosts were ultimately unable to find a breakthrough, settling for a share of the spoils.

According to data analysis from Opta’s supercomputer, Al-Hilal had a 63.6% chance of winning before Kadish’s dismissal, a probability that increased to 93% following the red card. Despite registering 21 shots on goal, with an expected goals (xG) value of 2.48, compared to Al-Ittihad’s seven attempts (0.77 xG), Al-Hilal were unable to convert their dominance into victory.

The draw marks a shift in momentum for Al-Hilal, who had previously enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season. The team had built a seven-point lead at the top of the table, but a recent run of four draws in six matches has allowed Al-Nassr to close the gap and ultimately take the lead. With 11 games remaining, Inzaghi’s side still have time to regain top spot, but the pressure is mounting.

The result raises questions about Al-Hilal’s ability to consistently convert chances and capitalize on their numerical advantage. While they dominated possession and created numerous opportunities, their inability to find the back of the net proved costly against a resilient Al-Ittihad side.