Al Hilal’s dominant start to the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League faces its biggest challenge yet as they take on rivals Al Nassr in the Riyadh derby on Friday evening.
Four points separate the two sides at the top of the table with both riding hot streaks in the league – Nassr have won their past five matches while Hilal boast seven straight victories – and both secured safe passage to the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League in midweek.
The Riyadh rivals have dominated Saudi football in recent years, winning eight of the past 10 league titles between them (Hilal have five league titles to Nassr's three).
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to shake off a neck injury that saw him withdrawn in the second half of Nassr's 0-0 draw with Persepolis, but it is Al Hilal boss Jorge Jesus who will be forced to shuffle his pack.