Chelsea opponent outlook: Getting to know Al Hilal SFC
2. How did Al Hilal get here?
As we’ve already learned, Al Hilal is no stranger to success. The Saudi Arabian super-club went through a bit of a rough patch in the late 2000s/early 2010s, but it has now found its footing once again. Al-Za’eem is back to doing what it does best, winning trophies. This success on both the domestic and international level has seen it reach this point. In this section of the article, we’re going to discuss Al Hilal’s journey to the Club World Cup, its path to the semifinal and results from the current campaign, as well.
Beginning with the path to the Club World Cup, it was a relatively short road paved with gold throughout the last season for Al-Za’eem. A new manager and a plethora of new faces guided Al Hilal to a second consecutive Saudi Pro League title in 2020/21. The side finished atop the table with 61 points from just 30 matches (18 wins, seven draws, five losses). Al-Za’eem also completed the domestic campaign with the highest goal differential in the league at +33.
In the AFC Champions League, Al Hilal kicked off the tournament with a runner-up finish in Group A. The shaky start in the group stage against AGMK, Istiklol and Shabab Al-Ahli cast doubts in the minds of supporters, but after qualifying for the Round of 16, the Saudi Arabians never looked back. Al-Za’eem went on a tear over the next two stages, keeping clean sheets against Esteghlal and Persepolis. The experienced club finally allowed its first goal in the knockout stages to its cross-town rival, Al-Nassr, in the semifinal of the competition. Nevertheless, Al Hilal was able to overcome the obstacle and re-take a lead 20 minutes later, one in which it would not give up.
Al-Za’eem booked its place in the AFC Champions League final against Pohang Steelers with a 2-1 win over Riyadh rival Al-Nassr. The historically successful Al Hilal was able to overcome the lovable underdogs from South Korea in the final thanks to a goal in the first minute of the match. A second was added midway through the second half to ensure the Saudi Arabians took home the trophy for the first time since 2019. This is also how it booked its place in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The one piece of information about Chelsea’s semifinal opponent that will be widely known amongst those reading this is its sole result in the tournament thus far. Al Hilal soundly defeated the host nation’s representative—Al Jazira—by a score of 6-1 on Sunday. The UAE club opened up the scoring in the 14′ before Al-Za’eem responded with six unanswered goals. The Saudis took the lead with two goals in quick succession before halftime and never looked back. While Al Hilal won the match comfortably, the scoreline was a bit more harsh than it should’ve been. The sixth and final goal came via a controversial handball which resulted in a spot kick in extra time. The game was already done and dusted before the visitors scored their sixth in the 92′. It goes without saying the Blues will have their hands full with Al Hilal’s lethal attack, which displayed discipline at the weekend by firing 10 of its 20 shots on target.
Luckily for the European Champions, this is not the same Al-Za’eem team that steamrolled its opponents over the last year. A number of high profile additions this season has seen Al Hilal struggle to adjust domestically. It currently sits fourth in the Saudi Pro League (albeit with a game or two in hand on the three clubs above it) after seven draws in the opening 17 matches. Seem familiar to you, reader? Al-Za’eem is essentially just the Saudi version of Chelsea. The Blues still need to be on top of their game if they want to advance to the tournament’s finale though as Al Hilal has a number of individuals within its ranks that possess European experience.