Al-Hilal dropped league points for only the third time this Saudi Pro League season, drawing 1-1 away to Al-Riyadh, as the leaders’ long winning run ended despite heavy pressure in the closing stages.
Simone Inzaghi’s team had arrived on a 13-match league winning streak, stretching back to September, and were expected to ease past 16th-place Al-Riyadh, who are fighting to stay clear of relegation danger near the bottom of the table.
Al-Hilal appeared on course for another victory when Marcos Leonardo finished calmly on 26 minutes, the goal standing after a VAR review confirmed the forward had stayed onside, but Al-Riyadh responded from a set piece and then survived intense pressure for the rest of the contest.
FT. pic.twitter.com/pFaGtEjwPtAlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) January 25, 2026
The equaliser arrived on 58 minutes when Ibrahim Bayesh reacted quickest to a corner from Toze and forced the ball over the line, scoring with what turned out to be Al-Riyadh’s final attempt of the match as the hosts retreated deeper.
Al-Riyadh then had to cope with more than 10 minutes of stoppage time with 10 players after Marzouq Tambakti collected a second yellow card, while Al-Hilal struck the woodwork through Salem Al Dawsari and also had a potential winner ruled out for offside.
Despite the draw feeling like a missed opportunity for the leaders, the numbers underlined Al-Riyadh’s defensive effort, as Al-Hilal produced 13 shots but generated only 1.67 expected goals, while the hosts created four attempts yet still found a way to score from a scrappy situation.
| Team | Shots | Shots on Target | Expected Goals (xG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Hilal | 13 | - | 1.67 |
| Al-Riyadh | 4 | - | - |
Marcos Leonardo’s strike, rolled into an empty net, carried 0.79 xG and was the forward’s only effort, while Darwin Nunez recorded three shots but hit the target just once on a frustrating outing for Inzaghi’s side against disciplined opponents.
For Al-Riyadh, this hard-earned point against the Saudi Pro League leaders will feel almost like a victory, while Al-Hilal remain clear at the top but lose some momentum after their long sequence of wins was halted by a team still battling to avoid relegation.
