Top Clasico Shock: Al Hilal Without Salim Al-Dawsari as Ittihad Stand in the Way
23 October 2025
Injury Forces Al Hilal Captain Out of Clasico
Saudi media confirmed on Wednesday that captain Salem Al-Dawsari will not participate in the highly anticipated Clasico with Al Ittihad. He remains unavailable due to a pelvis-related injury, has not yet rejoined full team training, and a precise return date remains undetermined.
Standings, Build-Up and Final Call
The Friday match will take place at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, as round six of the Roshen Saudi Pro League unfolds. Al Ittihad sit fifth with 10 points, while Al Hilal are fourth with 11, four points behind leaders Al Nassr (15). The blue team will conduct its final training on Thursday in Riyadh before heading to Jeddah, with coach Simone Inzaghi set to finalize the squad and decide on foreign-player options for the clash.
Injury and National Team Link
Al-Dawsari’s absence follows an injury sustained during recent Saudi national-team duties in Asian World Cup qualifiers. He carried the pain to help the Green Falcons top their playoff group after a 3-2 win over Indonesia and a goalless draw with Iraq, later saying that he played through pain out of duty as captain.
He missed the last two Al Hilal fixtures—the league win over Al Ettifaq and the AFC Champions League Elite defeat to Al Sadd. As earlier suggested by Inzaghi, the manager noted he might be unavailable, saying: “I don’t think Salem will be ready for the next match. The injury came with the national team, we’re trying every rehabilitation path, but I can’t confirm his presence.”
Seasonal Form, Criticism and Asian Glory
This season, Al-Dawsari has appeared in six games across competitions: four in the Roshen League, one in the Elite AFC tournament, and one in the King’s Cup, contributing three goal-creating actions in the league. He has faced criticism from former Saudi star Ahmed Atif, who questioned how Inzaghi could fit Al-Dawsari into his tactical plan. If this trend continues, he may not be a guaranteed starter for the Italian coach.
Nevertheless, Al-Dawsari recently claimed Asia’s Best Player for 2025 in a Riyadh ceremony, becoming the first Saudi to win the award twice (2022 and 2025). He beat rivals Akram Afif and Arif Aiman, joining an elite list of multiple winners that includes Nakata, Djabrov, and Afif. He commented: “Grateful for this double honour; dedicated to Hilal fans and the Saudi national team.”
On the positive side, Al Hilal welcomed right-back Hamad Al-Yami back to full training after recovering from an injury against Al Ettifaq. The club’s official X post showed him back on the pitch, offering a welcome boost to a squad dealing with several absences ahead of the Clasico.
Head-to-Head and Historical Context
The Al Hilal vs Al Ittihad rivalry is a fixture rich in history. They have met 107 times in the Saudi Pro League, with Hilal holding the edge on 49 wins to Ittihad’s 30, while 28 matches have ended in draws. Their most recent meeting last season in Jeddah finished 4-1 for Ittihad, a painful result for Hilal in recent years.
In short, the Clasico remains a marquee event for standings and pride alike, promising drama regardless of injuries. For image search: “Salem Al-Dawsari Asia Best 2025”
Punchlines
Punchline 1: Without Salem, this Clasico might need a GPS—the ball could wander all over the pitch and still somehow find the net, eventually.
Punchline 2: This match is so tense that even the goalposts are wearing body armor. If it were a movie, the trailer would say: “In a world where one captain is out, a league fights on for glory.”
