Derby Drama and Hidden Moments: Hilal Triumphs 2-0 in a Tense Jeddah Classic
26 October 2025
Post-match drama and a 2-0 result
The Saudi Pro League derby between Al Ittihad and Al Hilal in Jeddah delivered more off-pitch drama than many games, with Hilal winning 2-0 at the Al-Inma Stadium in round six.
The victory kept the race tight in the league and sparked scenes in the stands that organizers quickly contained, according to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.
Hilal supporters celebrated as stewards and officials intervened to calm tensions following the final whistle.
Analysts, tests, and a title-pace chase
In the same stands, four performance analysts monitored the match from above the pitch as part of a broader intensification of the coaching staff around Sérgio Conceição's Al Ittihad side.
Despite the extra analysis, Al Ittihad failed to overturn the deficit, continuing a difficult run this season.
After the game, doping tests were conducted on Marcus Leonardo and Mohammed Kanno of Hilal, and on Houssam Awar and Awwad Al-Nashri of Ittihad, in line with standard post-match procedures.
Hilal’s win extended a string of victories across competitions under Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, highlighting the team’s form as they press the title race and Asian ambitions.
Standings-wise, Hilal sit third with 14 points, four behind leaders Nasr and one behind second-placed Taawoun; in the AFC Champions League West, they sit top with nine points from three games.
Looking ahead, Hilal will visit Al Akhdood in the King’s Cup, while Al Ittihad faces Al Nasr in the same competition, promising another heavyweight clash.
The “Ittihad curse” narrative persists, with Hilal enjoying the edge in recent league meetings and at the visitors’ expense when they meet on home turf.
In short, the derby added drama to a season already full of twists, reminding fans that the Saudi elite can deliver both goals and headlines in equal measure.
Sniper joke 1: If drama paid the bills, this derby would have funded the stadium renovations—Hilal hit the target, while the timeline kept missing.
Sniper joke 2: They say defense wins titles; in this match, the net won the applause and the analysts won the overtime rate—this scoreboard didn’t lie.
