Muscle setback ahead of Riyadh derby shakes Al-Hilal
8 January 2026
Injury Update
Mut'ab Al-Harbi suffers muscle pains before facing Al-Hazm.
The Riyadh club faced a fresh blow ahead of the derby with Al-Nassr, set for next Monday, in the Roshan Saudi League's 15th round this season.
According to the Saudi daily Al-Riyadiyah, Mut'ab Al-Harbi, a pillar of the squad, suffered a muscular injury in warmups this evening before the Al-Hazm match.
The newspaper noted that he felt a strain in his hamstring during the late warmup, forcing him to leave the starting XI and handing the spot to teammate Nasser Al-Dosri.
Hilal beat Al-Hazm 3-0 in the 14th round of the Roshan League, comfortably topping the table.
Standings and Absences
With 35 points, Hilal lead the table by four points over second-placed Al-Nassr, who face Al-Qadisiyah in the same round, as well.
The club will also be without Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bono and Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly as they compete in the Africa Cup of Nations this year, while Portuguese winger Joao Cancelo has moved to Barcelona.
Punchline: If injuries paid rent, Mut'ab’s hamstring would own the stadium. Punchline 2: The derby will outlast my lunch break, and somehow still manage to steal the show.
