Neymar’s Comeback Sparks Excitement as Al-Hilal Prepares for Showdown with Al-Riyadh
Al-Hilal’s Dominance: Al-Hilal currently reigns supreme atop the Saudi Pro League. They’ve left a trail of destruction in their wake, securing four victories in their first five matches. Remarkably, they’ve netted an impressive 14 goals while conceding just five. In stark contrast, the newly-promoted Al-Riyadh finds themselves languishing in 15th place, having suffered three defeats, recorded just one win, and managed a solitary draw in their opening five fixtures. Their goal-scoring prowess pales in comparison, having found the net only three times while conceding a staggering ten goals.
First Meeting of the Season: The impending clash between Al-Hilal SFC and Al-Riyadh marks their inaugural encounter this season, just before the international break. In their most recent showdown, Al-Hilal clinched a thrilling 4-3 victory against Al-Ittihad. They aim to replicate this success on Friday and extend their impressive unbeaten streak in the league to ten matches. All eyes will be on their star signing, Neymar Jr., who is poised to make his long-awaited debut after recovering from injury sustained during Brazil’s campaign in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
Analyzing the Odds: The Asian handicap currently stands at 0:2 3/4, underlining a substantial gap between the two sides. Al-Hilal SFC remains invincible in their last nine matches, clinching victory in three recent Asian handicap encounters. Conversely, Al-Riyadh has grappled with a lack of efficiency, failing to secure a win in their last four matches and suffering three losses in Asian handicap betting.
Magical Feet’s Pick: Al-Hilal SFC -2 3/4
Over/Under Prediction: A goal bonanza could be on the cards. Al-Hilal SFC’s most recent match witnessed a staggering seven goals, and in 2 out of Al-Riyadh’s last 3 games, the total goals surpassed the 3.5-mark.
Magical Feet’s Pick: Over 3 1/2
First-Half Action: Despite this being their maiden encounter, Al-Hilal SFC, armed with Neymar Jr.’s attacking prowess and a cohesive team, is expected to apply relentless pressure on Al-Riyadh’s defense from the outset. Furthermore, in 2 out of Al-Riyadh’s last 3 games, they’ve conceded two or more goals in the first 45 minutes. Therefore, the likelihood of a first-half goal fest is considerably high.
Magical Feet’s Pick: Over 1st Half
