Rubin Neves Sparks Hope as Al Hilal Readies for Riyadh Derby
2 January 2026
Riyadh Derby Energy Buildup
The Portuguese midfielder Rubin Neves surprised Al Hilal fans about ten days ahead of the Riyadh derby against long-time rivals Al Nassr.
Al Hilal will meet Al Nassr on Monday, January 12, at the Kingdom Arena, in the 15th round of the Roshen Saudi League.
Club officials announced Neves would take part in the first part of the group training, in preparation for the Damak clash on Sunday.
That means Neves is close to featuring in the upcoming match against Damak, or the following one against Al Hazm, scheduled for Thursday in round 14.
Some newspapers have suggested the club is aiming to have Neves ready for the derby, after he missed the last match against Al Khodood in round 12.
Meanwhile, Salem Al-Dawsari continues his rehab in hopes of returning before the derby, after also missing the previous game against Al Khodood due to injury. Punchline: If this derby needs a fireworks display, Neves is ready to provide the spark. Punchline 2: The net might file for overtime after his shot—coach calls it a learning opportunity for the goalkeeper.
