Inzaghi’s decision leaves Al Hilal 20 days without a competitive fixture

Al Hilal will go 20 days without playing a match after head coach Simone Inzaghi decided against arranging a friendly during the current international break.

The Saudi Pro League leaders last played on 3 November, beating Shabab Al Ahli 2-0 in the fourth round of the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite.

They were due to face Al Ettifaq at the end of last week, but the Saudi Pro League postponed the entire 13th round before the international break. The decision followed the postponement of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

According to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah, Inzaghi rejected the possibility of playing a friendly, instead opting for internal training matches. Daily sessions are scheduled to resume on Saturday at the Al Majdiah Sports Centre in Riyadh.

The Italian’s decision comes as Al Hilal deal with a shortage of players. Several members of the first-team squad have been called up by their national teams, while three others are unavailable because of injury.

Eight Al Hilal players are currently with the Saudi Arabia squad at its camp in Doha: Mohammed Al Owais, Mohammed Mahzari, Hassan Tambakti, Moteb Al-Harbi, Ali Lajami, Mohammed Kanno, Nasser Al-Dawsari and Sultan Mandash.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has joined Morocco, while defender Kalidou Koulibaly is with Senegal. Yusuf Akcicek has been selected for the Turkey under- team, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is with Serbia, Ruben Neves is representing Portugal and winger Crysencio Summerville has joined the Netherlands.

Captain Salem Al-Dawsari is among the injured players, alongside Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli and French midfielder Simon Buabri.

With the first-team squad depleted, Inzaghi will use players from Al Hilal’s under-21 side, which competes in the Jowy Elite League, to help cover the absences during the break.

Al Hilal’s under-21 team have made an average start to the season and sit sixth in the league with 17 points. Their record consists of five wins, two draws and one defeat.

This is the second time this season that Inzaghi has called on the under-21 squad, having done so during the previous international break.

Al Hilal’s next match will be against Uzbekistan’s Neftchi on 23 November at the hosts’ stadium, in the fifth round of the AFC Champions League Elite league phase. The 20-day gap between fixtures means the club will not play again until that match.

Al Hilal are second in the West region group with nine points from three wins and one defeat, three points behind leaders Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates.

They will then travel to face Al Ettifaq at the latter’s stadium in Dammam on 28 November, in the 13th round of the Saudi Pro League.

Al Hilal currently lead the Saudi Pro League with 30 points from 10 victories and one defeat. They are two points clear of Al Qadsiah and Al Nassr, who occupy second and third place respectively.