Chelsea opponent outlook: Getting to know Al Hilal SFC

3. Getting to know the faces at Al Hilal

There comes a moment in every football fan’s lifetime where they turn on the television to watch two obscure—a relative term to the hypothetical fan in this scenario, of course—teams face off against one another. This usually happens out-of-season when there is nothing else on TV and one has an itch for the beautiful game. The spectator couldn’t give two Spurs (I know, I’m being cruel, but the Blues haven’t gotten to beat them in two weeks, it’s been awhile) about the result. As long as he or she sees some quality football being played, life is good—and then it happens. A name is read by the voice of an unknown commentator that sparks a feeling of instant nostalgia.

Why does any of this matter? Many football supporters across the globe will experience this phenomenon (or something close to it) when they tune into Chelsea versus Al Hilal on Wednesday.

Beginning in the dugout, a man familiar to many European football fans resides on the touchline for Al Hilal. Leonardo Jardim has been the manager of Al-Za’eem for a season-and-a-half now. You’d be forgiven for not knowing the name on first mention, but he does have a significant place in European football history. Jardim is a famous Portuguese manager who has taken charge of some of the most recognizable clubs on the continent. He has coached at Braga, Olympiacos and Sporting CP. However, he is most famously known as the manager that led Monaco to success in the mid-to-late 2010s (i.e. the Tiemoue Bakayoko teams, for all of you Chelsea fans).

In all seriousness, Jardim’s Monaco produced some world class talent. The 2016/17 French Champions had incredible players such as Bakayoko, Fabinho, Radamel Falcao, Thomas Lemar, Kylian Mbappe, Joao Moutinho and Bernardo Silva. All of this goes to show that with his guys, Jardim is capable of incredible things. His Al Hilal side is nowhere near as talented as the famous Monaco squad that won Ligue 1 and made the semifinals of the UCL, but it’s no pushover either.

Starting in midfield, Al-Za’eem has a player whose name will send shivers down the backs of Blues fans. Former West Bromwich Albion playmaker Matheus Pereira is one of the key contributors to Al Hilal’s success thus far this season. Following the Baggies’ relegation, Pereira opted to move to Saudi Arabia where he could become an international star in a team that possesses virtually none of those. He’s gotten off to a relatively fast start, racking up seven assists in his first 14 games. The Brazilian scored his first goal for the club and added another assist in the 6-1 win over Al Jazira. Pereira will look to pick up right where he left off against Chelsea on Wednesday. The last time he played the Blues in 2021, he scored twice in West Brom’s astonishing 5-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea supporters will also be familiar with Al-Za’eem’s star striker, Odion Ighalo. Ighalo famously made the move to Manchester United in 2020 on loan from Shanghai Shenhua. Don’t let the Nigerian’s disappointing loan spell at Old Trafford fool you though, he’s a very capable talisman. The former Watford No. 9 has only played one match for his new club, but he scored his debut goal against Al Jazira in the last round. Ighalo joined Al Hilal from Al Shabab, where he managed 13 goals and one assist in just 19 appearances in the SPL and King’s Cup. The striker has Premier League experience, but perhaps most importantly, he has confidence. The Blues’ back line is regarded as one of the world’s best and it must not take Ighalo lightly.

Lastly, Chelsea fans will be familiar with the name Moussa Marega. The Frenchman spent five years with Porto from 2016 to 2021 and he notably started in both legs of the UCL quarterfinal for his former club against the Blues last season. He didn’t find the net in either contest, but he did cause some issues for Chelsea’s defense on numerous occasions. Marega made the move to Al Hilal in the summer after his contract with the Portuguese outfit expired. The versatile 30-year-old has gotten off to a quick start in Saudi Arabia, managing seven goals and three assists in 14 games across all competitions. He—like the aforementioned duo—also netted against Al Jazira last weekend, adding an assist to his tally too.

The Asian Champions pose a legitimate threat in Wednesday’s Club World Cup semifinal. If the Blues aren’t careful, they could suffer an embarrassing defeat in a competition they’re expected to run away with in the end. This would mean having to wait for the opportunity to win it all.

What do you expect out of Al Hilal against Chelsea in the Club World Cup semifinal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!