Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr .. Who is "Super Saudi"?

The conflict between the poles of the capital, Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr, is renewed on Saturday (21:15 UAE time), when they meet at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh for the Saudi Football Super Cup.

Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr play the match that has gathered annually since 2013 (not in 2017) between the champions of the League and Cup for the fourth time, as the first had previously participated in the years 2015, 2016 and 2018, and the second in 2014, 2015 and 2020.

The two teams previously met twice this season, the first in the league and Al-Hilal won it 2-0, while it was the second in the King's Cup final and Al-Hilal also won it 2-1.

As for the Super Cup, they met once, in 2015, which ended with Al Hilal winning with a clean goal.

The two teams are present in this year's match after Al Hilal won the League and King's Cup, while Al-Nasr won the runners-up in the two championships.

Al-Hilal is looking forward to achieving the local treble and annexing the Super Cup to the League and the King's Cup, while Al-Nasr aspires to be rehabilitated after losing the final of the Cup and achieving the Super Cup for the second time in a row.

Romanian coach Hilal Razvan Lucescu confirmed that his team is "ready for the Super Cup match" as part of his desire to raise all the local titles of the past season.

"Today we have the opportunity and we must be at the best level," he added.

Al-Hilal currently leads the league with 30 points, which enabled it to be crowned the "honorary" winter title, but its level has significantly decreased in the recent period, and it has only won in the last nine matches in two, compared to a draw in five matches and loss in two games, one of them in King's Cup competition, which he left from its first round.

Lucescu explained, "We know that the victory match will not be easy," because the latter will look during this match for revenge, given what the blue team has achieved against yellow in the last period.

The participation of defender Mutaib Al-Mafarrej, who missed Al-Hilal training on Thursday, due to his hamstring injury, has not been decided.

"The match is important for the players, as it is a derby in addition to being a final match, but for me it is a tournament and I strive to achieve it," Lucescu said.

Al-Hilal hopes to be present in all technical and physical aspects to add a new title to its record full of tournaments, especially as it enters the match with full ranks.

After the negative start in the league, Al-Nassr began to gradually regain its balance, as it succeeded, under the leadership of its Croatian coach Aline Horvat, in sixth place at the end of the first section with 21 points, after he was in the penultimate position at the end of the tenth stage.

Horvat stressed his endeavor to "continue the series of victories" that he achieved with the team, adding, "Victory will be up to the responsibility in the Al Hilal match, and we are ready for such an event, and are ready for any challenge."

"Regardless of the result, when the players give all their performance and look well, I will consider myself a winner."

The yellow team did not suffer any loss in the last eight matches, as it won six, one of them in the King’s Cup, and tied in two matches, and seeks to continue its positive results and win the cup.

Despite the circumstances he is currently facing, represented in his Brazilian defender refraining from regular training, and the injury of his left defender Abdul Rahman Al-Obaid, along with Argentine Betty Martinez and Abdel Fattah Asiri, whose participation is still uncertain after their return from injury, but Al-Nasr seeks to continue its distinguished results in the recent period. And confirmation of his awakening by beating the traditional rivals.

Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news