“Ruben Neves inspires Al Hilal in the title race after more points dropped.”

Al Hilal may have let the lead in the Roshn Saudi League slip away, but this is not causing a stir within the team. The 2023-24 champions have shown they have the ability to recover from setbacks, having a recent experience that fuels their belief in a turnaround. Upon returning from the mid-season break, the team was four points behind rival Al Nassr, but managed to string together seven consecutive victories, finishing January with a seven-point advantage at the top of the table.

However, the last match on Tuesday night, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Al Taawoun, left Simone Inzaghi’s team in third place, failing to finish at the top for the second consecutive week. With a game scheduled against Al Nassr, Al Hilal is tied on points with their Riyadh rivals and just one point behind the current leaders, Al Ahli. It cannot be overlooked that Al Qadsiah, under Brendan Rodgers’ leadership, is just three points ahead, further intensifying the title race.

The draw in Buraidah was a tough blow for Al Hilal, with Neves putting the team ahead with a penalty goal in the 41st minute, only for Roger Martinez to equalize with a similar conversion during first-half stoppage time. This result marks the fifth draw for the team in the last seven matches in the RSL, a worrying sign for the fans.

“It wasn’t the result we wanted,” said Neves, who collected his sixth Player of the Match award this season. “In the first half, especially, we deserved a bit more – we played very well. The only opportunity they had was the penalty, and it resulted in a goal.” However, the mindset remains strong with the next challenge approaching: the Riyadh derby against Al Shabab. Neves called for calm and focus from his team.

“We were second until December [and] we had a fantastic January,” the player recalled. “We went to first place. Now we are in third, but of course the team can climb back up.” He reinforced the confidence, reminding that the team has shown resilience before: “We bounced back in January. We still have three months ahead and many games to play.”

With the intensity of the competition increasing, Al Hilal faces a crucial moment in the season. The pressure is building, and the ability to respond quickly will be tested. What follows will be decisive not only for the present but also for the team’s future and the relentless pursuit of the title.