· 2 min readIn this Al Hilal vs Neom match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
Al Hilal went into this sixth round of the Saudi Pro League on the back of five wins from five games and as the clear favourites across Saudi Arabia and Asia. Opposing them was a Neom side lacking big-name stars, but which had made an impressive start to the season. With Watkins and Martinelli making their first starts, another comfortable night was expected for Hilal.
But football did not care about the predictions.
Neom started without fear and, in the opening minutes, even had more of the ball. It was not particularly dangerous possession, but it showed that the team had not simply come to park the bus. Lacazette was still the first player to force a goalkeeper into a save and the game was evenly balanced.
Until the first shock arrived. In the 15th minute, from a corner, the ball fell to Al Sadd, who hit a Hilal player with his shot. The ball went back up and Koulibaly tried to clear with his head, but ended up sending it straight into his own goal. Own goal. 0-1. Nobody expected to see Neom in front, let alone in this way.
Al Hilal then began to control more of the possession, but controlling did not mean creating. The team had the ball, pushed Neom back, but lacked ideas and speed. Watkins still had a good headed opportunity from a Summerville cross, but headed it straight at Bulka. And Martinelli? Lost on the right-hand side, a long way from the impact expected on his debut.
And when it looked like Hilal would go into half-time just one goal behind, they suffered another blow. In the 45th minute, a corner for Neom, Milinkovic-Savic heads the ball away, but it remains inside the box, around the far-post area. Lacazette wins it in the air, heads against the crossbar and Koné reacts first to tap it in. 0-2. Once again, a completely lost Hilal defence from a set piece.
The first half was simply poor from the favourites. 61% possession, nine shots, but only two on target. Neom had less of the ball, but were ahead and deservedly so.
At half-time, Hilal changed everything. Two defenders came off, Rúben Neves dropped back into centre-back and the team became clearly more attacking. They finally started playing closer to Neom’s box and Kanno had a huge opportunity, but Bulka made an absolutely absurd save.
The Neom goalkeeper was having a dream night. Watkins appeared in the air again and once again Bulka saved it. Hilal kept pushing, but still could not turn their dominance into a goal. Martinelli, meanwhile, had a debut to forget, even being chipped at one point, which summed up his night rather well.
Lacazette, on the other side, produced a hugely intelligent performance. He knew when to accelerate, when to look for the foul and when to simply slow the game down. He was clearly the player operating at another level in Neom’s attack.
Hilal finished the match trying everything, even playing with three forwards, but still could not find a way through. Meite even hit the post in stoppage time, but it was already too late.
Post-match
Neom secured a historic 2-0 victory. Al Hilal lost for the first time in the league and, more than just losing, left a very worrying impression. The talent is still there, but today they lacked ideas, creativity and, above all, defensive concentration.
