Al Ittihad 3-4 Al Hilal: score, goals, highlights online, Saudi Pro League
Al Ittihad - Al Hilal: as it happened
FT: Al Ittihad 3-4 Al Hilal
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Huge drama in Jeddah as Al Hilal came from trailing 3-1, to turn things around and claim a famous 3-4 win with a triple from Mitrovic who was the hero of the night for the side from Riyadh.
Delight for the travelling fans as Jorge Jesus' side go top of the Saudi Pro League,
The whistle sounds and Al Hilal record a famous win with Serbian striker Mitrovic the hero for the side from Riyadh.
Al Amri is carded as he pulls a blue shirt back.
Still four minutes left.
Mohammed Al-Breik on for Malcolm
Al Ittihad really have run out of ideas and it really is just a question of Al Hilal being sensible and running the clock down.
Poor free from Al Amri as he clips the ball straight into Bono's arms.
Neves clips Kante and a moment of danger for Al Ittihad.
The players on both sides looks totally drained.
Al Ittihad getting desperate now as the punt long balls forward.
Malcolm almost makes it 3-5 as he hits the woodwork again.
12 minutes of time to be added.
We've hit the 90 minute mark.
Ali Al-Bulaihi carded for a deliberate handball.
Changes for Al Hilal
Al-Shahrani off - Al Faraj on
Micheal off -Nasser Al-Dawsari on
Jota almost finds Benzema and the Portuguese has looked poor since his introduction as his pass is well under hit.
Al Hilal in no hurry to take the goal kick and as things stand it's the side in blue and white who would top the Saudi Pro League table tonight.
Al Ittihad now on the front foot as they desperatley look for a goal to make it 4-4
Romarinho makes way for Zakaria Hawsawi (Al Ittihad)
Back underway and Bono does well from a flicked header and the ex Sevilla FC stopper gathers.
Water break time.
What a save from Bono as Al Ittihad work the ball well and Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti strikes straight at the Moroccan keeper.
Quarter of an hour left for Al Hilal to hang on and for Al Ittihad to strike back.
16 minutes left in this game so still plenty of time left for Al Ittihad to go level.
The fans in blue and white no in ecstasy as they realise they are witnessing a historic comeback against their dreaded rivals.
Sergej Milinković-Savić does well in winning a header as it sets up Khalifah Al-Dawsari to slot home.
Al Hilal take the lead.
What a comeback.
The ball is almost in the back of the Al Ittihad net as the home side are reeling now.
Malcolm heads twice as Al Hila knock on the door.
What a change in momentum for this game.
So, now, the tide has turned the way of Al Hilal and the away fans are making all the noise.
Changes for the home team.
Bamasaud and Alolayan off
Al Shanqeeti on along with Kadesh
Mitrovic drills the ball home.
All square in Jeddah.
Mitrovic to take and the Serbian striker will look to bag a hat-trick.
Bamasaud is carded.
Al Hilal break and it's the sub Michael who streaks free and is caught by Bamasaud and the ref points to the spot.
Al Hilal are back in the game and it's a second goal from Mitrovic as the Serbian striker heads home.
Jota (former Celtic man) is the replacement for the Brazilian who limps off.
Al Ittihad break and cut through Al Hilal as the ball is fed through to Benzema and Bono does really well to stand his ground and saves well.
Looks like Coronado as tweaked a hamstring and may not be able to continue.
Al Hilal playing with added urgency but Al Ittihad level with everything that is being thrown at them.
The ball falls to Khalifah Al-Dawsari from a corner but the Saudi player gets under the ball and blazes over.
The home fans still making plenty of noise with the supporters sensing a big win over their major rivals is on the cards.
Romarinho is through but the flag was up.
Nuno looking the far more relaxed of the two head coaches.
Jorge Jesus prowling the technical area with a scowl.
No. 96 Michael is on for Al Hilal at the break. Kanno making way.
All set for the second half.
Jorge Jesus heading out to the centre circle to speak to the match official.
The teams return to the pitch and despite a fine strike from Mitrovic for Al Hilal, its the home side who lead with goals from Romarinho, Benzema and Hamdallah.
Despite being ahead in the game, Al Hilal have enjoyed the better possession with 58% as opposed to the 42% of the home side.
The whistle sounds and brings a fine half to an end.
Al Ittihad in control as the Tigers take a 3-1 lead to the break.
Malcolm strikes the upright with a sweet left footed strike.
Just one minute to go from the 12 added on.
Al Ittihad in control
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Al Hilal at 6s and 7s as they struggle to find a way back into the contest.
Hamdallah pounces on an error from Milinko-Savic as his clearance is straight at the Moroccan who slots home.
Coronado has been one of the standout players for Al Ittihad tonight.
N'golo Kante breaks into the box and fires a left footed shot which fizzes wide of the Al Hilal goal.
Hamdallah skips past two players in blue and goes to ground (a little over dramatically) and immediately appeals for a penalty kick.
Ref not convinced and waves play on.
The Guatemalan official has been excellent tonight.
No cards from the ref and it looks like we'll have 12 minutes of time added on.
VAR looking at the incident.
Some theatrics from Hamdallah as he gets a hand on the face and goes to ground as is he was struck by Mike Tyson in his prime.
Two players on the pitch now as tension rises between the players.
Free for Al Hilal.
Straight from the training ground but the flick from Koulibaly fails to find a blue shirt.
Al Ittihad 2-1 Al Hilal
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The noise levels are cranked up to 11 now in Jeddah as Al Ittihad restore their lead.
Hawsawi carded for a shirt pull
A cheeky flick from the former Real Madrid man who works himself well into space and flicks home from the Bamsaud pass.
Benzema makes it 2-1.
What a goal from the French striker.
A chance too for both managers to offer some words of wisdom with just ten minutes remaining in the half.
Referee Escobar will no doubt add 7-8 minutes bo doubt with smoke delaying the start of the action.
Water break time.
We pass the half hour mark and Al Ittihad are ever so slightly on top.
Benzema has an effort.
There is a suspicion that the French striker is not totally 100% fit as he forces a save from Bono.
Jorge Jesus is the more active of the two Portuguese managers on the technical area as he gesticulates wildly to his side.
Al Hilal under pressure now.
Better from Al Ittihad as the force Al Hilal back.
The game now moving in waves with each side enjoying spells of domination.
Hamdallah is through on goal and really should have done better as he is through one on one with Bono but pokes the ball wide.
A major let-off for Al Hilal who do look vulnerable to the counter,
Wild pre game atmosphere
A snapshot of the scenes that greeted the players ahead of the game.
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After a slow start, this game has ignited into life.
The Saudi Clasico has exploded as the giants from Jeddah and Riyadh do battle.
1-1 in Jeddah
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Great technique from the Serbian striker as he fires into the top corner.
Al Ittihad concede for the first time all season.
What a reply as Mitrovic volleys home with an exceptional strike.
Al Hilal have had at least three corners, all taken by Ruben Neves and three of the poorest deliveries you'll ever see in the professional game !
Al Ittihad ahead in Jeddah
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Al Ittihad go ahead and the pass from Hamdallah is delightful as the Brazilian slots past Bono.
Romarinho strikes
Benzema yet to really get in on the action but the good news from an Al Ittihad point of view is that the French striker looks mobile.
Neves involved again and the Portuguese is really walking a tight rope as he clips Hamdallah.
Neves fouls and is lucky not to be carded.
The game is still yet to get any continuous rhythm together with niggly fouls breaking up any momemntum.
Bono is called into action and the Moroccan is alert and clears long down field from a poor bit of defending from the side in blue.
We're good to go.
The corner is poor and Al Ittihad manager to avert the danger.
Al Hilal now starting to dominate possession.
Nervy start to the action with neither team yet to get any definitive rhythm together.
Corner for Al Hilal. Neves to take.
Referee Escobar just halting the action again as smoke continues to engulf the pitch.
Al Hilal yet to get a look in with the home side in total control.
The Tigers go straight on the offense as the ref halts play to let the smoke vanish from the playing surface.
Off we go... Al Hilal get the game underway.
Cracking atmosphere, lets hope the game matches the occasion.
Both teams greet their respective fan groups with a deafening atmosphere as smoke bombs and flare smoke engulfs the stadium.
149th meeting between the giants.
63 wins for Al Hilal
50 wins for Al Ittihad
The teams are on the field.
Plenty of Al Hilal fans have made the journey to Jeddah as they greet the teams as they make their way onto the pitch.
Tricky conditions for the players tonight with the game set to be played with a temperature of 35C-91F.
A water break will be held in both halves to allow players to hydrate.
Both teams set to wear their classic colours tonight.
Al Ittihad in their yellow and black stripes with Al Hilal in all blue.
A reminder for those joining us late... the big news tonight is that Karim Benzema starts for the home side.
Many felt that the French striker would be out of action after being forced off in the past game but he's surprised many and is ready to play in the Saudi 'Clasico'.
Not long to go now as kick off looms on the horizon at the King Abdullah Sports City where a full house is expected, with over 60,000 fans!
Grohe wins keeper of the month
The Brazilian has been a regular between the sticks for Al Ittihad since his move to the Gulf from Gremio in 2018 with the veteran keeper winning the monthly award as his team are yet to ship a goal all season (after 4 games).
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Al Ittihad fans pose with the SPL title
Ahead of tonight's game, Tigers fans had the opportunity to get a snap with the Roshn Saudi League trophy which, after a 14 year with, Al Ittihad bagged last season.
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Nuno awarded coach of the month
The Portuguese was awarded 'coach of the month' for August as his Al Ittihad side have come out firing on all cylinders winning all four games and topping the league table.
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Players arrive in true NBA style
The arrival walkway is now becoming a major thing in global sport with the arrival originally featuring heavily in NBA coverage but spreading to other sports.
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Nuno Espirito Santo
Many wondering where Nuno went to after his spell in the English Premier League need look no further.
Since July 2022 he has overseen the Jeddah side and is highly regarded by the fans after securing the first league title for the Tigers in 14 seasons last year as they secured the Roshn Saudi League title.
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Blue Waves with upper hand
Al Hilal have dominated recent Clasico's in the Saudi Pro League winning four of the past five meetings in all competition with the other game ending in a draw.
Benzema starts for Al Ittihad !
Despite everything pointing to the French striker being ruled out for a few games with a hamstring problem, the forward is named by Nuno in Al Ittihad's starting XI for the high profile clash in Jeddah.
Fabinho and Kante also start for the Tigers.
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Al Hilal XI confirmed
We do have team news though for the side from Riyadh and Yaccine Bono starts in goal again.
Malcolm and Mitrovic will lead the line for Jorge Jesus' men.
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Al Ittihad are ready !
Just over an hour to go before kick-off.
We expect to have the confirmed team news in approximately twenty minutes.
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No Benzema for the Tigers
Confirmation that Karim Benzema will be absent following a muscle issue developed during the last league game for Al Ittihad.
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Al Hilal: recent form
August, 2023: Al-Hilal 2-0 Al-Ettifaq
August, 2023: Al-Raed 0-4 Al-Hilal
August, 2023: Al-Hilal 1-1 Al-Fayha
August, 2023: Abha 1-3 Al-Hilal
August, 2023: Al Hilal 1-2 Al Nassr
Al Ittihad: recent form
August, 2023: Al-Wehda 0-3 Al-Ittihad
August, 2023: Al Riyadh 0-4 Al-Ittihad
August, 2023: Al-Ittihad 2-0 Al Tai
August, 2023: Al-Raed 0-3 Al-Ittihad
August, 2023: Al-Ittihad 1-3 Al-Hilal
The rivalry between tonight's teams is arguably the most tense in domestic Saudi Arabian football as the oldest club in Saudi (Al Ittihad) face the most decorated side from the capital.
Al Ittihad can boast to being the current league champions though.
Al Hilal summer signings
Neymar Jr, arguably Al Hilal's highest profile summer recruit is also missing tonight with the Brazilian yet to pull on the blue jersey for the Riyadh based outfit.
Al Ittihad summer signings
Al Ittihad were heavily involved in big summer signings but bad news for fans of the current champions is the news that Karim Benzema is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Saudi Pro League: table
With only four games played in the new season, this clash between the big two in Saudi Arabia already has a feeling of title decider as both the sides from Jeddah and Riyadh have got off to a flying start and both sides remain unbeaten.
The game between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal will be played at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, on Friday, 1 September 2023.
Kick-off is at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage as Al Ittihad face Al Hilal in an early, high profile top of the table clash as the top two teams in the league.