Al-Hilal Pressurises Al-Nassr With Dominant 3-0 Win Over Al-Hazem, Led By Benzema

Al-Hilal secure a 3-0 victory over Al-Hazem, with Benzema shining as they close the gap on leaders Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

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Al-Hilal eased to a 3-0 win over Al-Hazem, tightening the Saudi Pro League title race by trimming Al-Nassr’s lead to five points. Simone Inzaghi’s team took advantage of Al-Nassr’s later kick-off on Sunday, producing a controlled away display that maintained momentum in the chase for top spot.

The visitors’ superiority showed in both the scoreline and underlying numbers. Al-Hilal generated 3.24 expected goals, while Al-Hazem produced 1.11 xG in reply, highlighting a clear attacking edge. The result also stretched Al-Hilal’s unbeaten league run against Al-Hazem to nine matches, underlining a consistent dominance in this fixture.

Karim Benzema, Marcos Leonardo and Ruben Neves all found the net at Ar-Rass Stadium, with each goal arriving at key moments.

Benzema’s early strike settled any nerves, Leonardo’s late finish killed off resistance, and Neves’ stoppage-time penalty confirmed the margin. The 3-0 score reflected both clinical finishing and firm defensive control.

The opening goal came after nine minutes, when Neves’ corner deflected into Benzema’s path. The forward reacted quickest and tapped into an unguarded net, with Ibrahim Zaied stranded. That breakthrough rewarded a strong Al-Hilal start, during which Theo Hernandez and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic both tested Zaied from range.

Al-Hazem did create danger on occasions, most notably when Abdurahman Al-Dakheel went close during the first half. However, Al-Hilal largely dictated territory and tempo. Sultan Mandash believed the advantage had doubled when Leonardo’s effort struck the post and rolled kindly across goal, but a VAR review ruled Mandash offside and cancelled the finish.

The same pair eventually combined to decisive effect on 82 minutes. Mandash advanced down the flank and delivered a low cross into the area. Leonardo timed the run well and slid in to guide the ball into the bottom-left corner, giving Al-Hilal a 2-0 cushion and removing any real doubt over the result.

Deep into added time, Al-Hilal struck again after Aboubacar Bah brought down Mohamed Kanno inside the penalty area. Neves stepped up in the third minute of stoppage time and converted calmly from the spot. That goal capped a commanding away performance and provided extra insurance for goal difference in the Saudi Pro League standings.

Benzema’s impact extended beyond this single match. The goal in Al-Rass lifted the French forward’s league tally to 17 for the current Pro League campaign. Seven of those strikes have been opening goals, underlining Benzema’s habit of setting the tone early. That reliability continues to give Inzaghi’s side a strong platform in tight title-race scenarios.

With Al-Nassr not playing until Sunday, the result places pressure on the current leaders. Al-Hilal’s nine-match unbeaten stretch against Al-Hazem, the high xG figure, and the spread of goalscorers all point to a team in rhythm. The clean sheet and controlled display keep the Saudi Pro League contest finely balanced heading into the next round of fixtures.