Secrets Behind Al Hilal's 3-1 Triumph Over Al Sadd: Stars, Strategy, and a Clasico Countdown

Al Hilal players revealed the main reason behind their victory over Al Sadd in the AFC Champions League Elite and also sent a message to fans ahead of the highly anticipated Clasico against Al Ittihad on Friday in the Saudi Pro League.

Hilal secured a 3-1 win over Al Sadd on Tuesday at Kingdom Arena, in the third round of the group stage of the Asian competition.

Koulibaly's remarks

The Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who earned the Man of the Match award after scoring and assisting, spoke after the match. He noted that the game was tough, but the team prepared well, started strongly, and managed to score early and control much of the match. He also pointed to a strong second half where, despite a dip in intensity, the team remained the better side until the end.

Koulibaly explained that his improved form this season is linked to the coach’s influence. With Simone Inzaghi arriving and giving confidence, the squad has been able to express itself, aided by the coach’s familiarity with him from previous days at Napoli. He emphasized his aim to deliver top performances for the fans who backed him.

He recalled his Napoli days as part of the ongoing collaboration with the coach and highlighted the ongoing effort to perform at a high level across all competitions while hoping to satisfy supporters. The player also referenced the period last season when the team faced challenges and still managed to win the Saudi Super Cup, while finishing runners-up in the league and exiting other cups earlier than hoped.

With the upcoming Clasico against the traditional rivals, he urged the fans to keep backing the team and to stay by their side as they push to win more trophies this season, acknowledging that last season was difficult but vowing a strong start to the current campaign.

The defender also noted his own journey since joining, and how his experiences across different clubs have shaped his approach with this squad, reinforcing his commitment to delivering for the supporters who have shown him strong backing.

Hamdan's remarks

Abdullah Al-Hamdan said the match against Al Sadd was challenging, underlining that Al Sadd is one of the continent’s biggest sides. He added that the victory was not easy but the team helped themselves by taking control of the game and pushing for goals, which helped secure the result. He thanked God for the win and stressed that the main objective remains to win more matches and titles.

On the upcoming Clasico against Al Ittihad, Hamdan described the derby as a big test even if the opponent is going through a rough patch. He insisted the squad would prepare properly and push for a win on the road to strengthening their position in the league.

Hamdan also praised fellow Saudi star Salem Al-Dosri after he was named Asia’s Player of the Year, calling him a legend of Saudi football and highlighting his influence on the team. It was noted that Hamdan started the match with Al-Dosri out through injury, emphasizing the depth of the squad this season.

Additionally, Hamdan highlighted the broader context of Saudi football’s success this year and the important role played by the national teammates as they push for more recognition in Asia and beyond.

Akcişik's remarks and the historic win

Turkish defender Yusuf Akcişik also commented after scoring the opening goal, acknowledging that the game was tough but expressing happiness with the victory and the team’s performance. He thanked the supporters who attended and urged them to continue backing the squad.

Al Hilal’s win marks a historic moment in AFC Champions League history. Opta notes that it is the 14th consecutive home match without defeat for the club in ACL play, and the run of home wins now stands at 12 in a row, an unprecedented achievement. The record also surpasses a previous mark set by Yokohama Marinos of Japan, which had 11 straight home wins in ACL history.

The last time Hilal tasted defeat at home in ACL competition was September 18, 2023, against Navbahor. Since then, the team has played 12 home matches in the tournament and won them all, with no draws or losses, underscoring a remarkable home dominance in Asia’s premier club competition. The ongoing form has fans dreaming of more silverware as the season unfolds.

Punchline 1: If punchlines were penalties, this article would be sending the referee to the fourth official with a yellow card for overconfidence. Punchline 2: The defense is so precise this season that even snipers would be impressed—targets hit, timing impeccable, crowd still cheering.