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Al Hilal’s Clasico setback: two stars out, Koulibaly back in the fold

31 January 2026

Al Hilal’s Clasico setback: two stars out, Koulibaly back in the fold
Salem Al-Dawsari and Marcus Leonardo out with flu; Koulibaly returns to training ahead of the Clasico.

Clasico Prep: Absences and a Returnee

Al Hilal Saudi Club announced that two of its stars will miss training today as part of preparations for the Saudi Pro League clash with Al Ahli.

The fixture sees the teams meeting on February 2 in the 20th round at Kingdom Arena.

According to the club's official X post, Salem Al-Dawsari, the team captain, was sidelined after contracting influenza, the same reason that kept Brazilian forward Marcus Leonardo out of training.

Meanwhile, Kalidou Koulibaly is reported to have participated in the first part of the session, before continuing his rehab program to recover from a muscle injury he sustained with his national team in the AFCON semi-finals.

Koulibaly had recently been out due to his father's death before returning to the club.

Punchline: If flu is the opponent, Al Hilal’s bench becomes a revolving door of replacements — welcome to depth chart drama!

Punchline 2: The Rock returns to the defense—because even a wall needs a comeback, and apparently so do the motivational speakers on the touchline.

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Michael Whooosh

I am Michael Whooosh, an English sports journalist born in 1986. Passionate about surfing, poetry, and beekeeping, I share my human and sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which players were absent from training?

Salem Al-Dawsari and Marcus Leonardo were sidelined by flu.

When is the next match and where will it be played?

Al Hilal hosts Al Ahli on February 2, 2026 at Kingdom Arena.

What is Koulibaly’s status for the match?

Kalidou Koulibaly took part in the first part of training and will continue rehabilitation after a muscle injury; he had been out recently following his father's death.