Derby Dilemma: Injury Woes Nose Ahead of Riyadh Showdown as Al Hilal Sidelines Key Stars
30 October 2025
Injury Update
Al Hilal has outlined why Serge Savic and Darwin Nunez will miss Friday’s meeting with Al Shabab at the Kingdom Arena, a fixture in the seventh round of the Saudi Pro League. Savic is sidelined with a leg bruise and remains in the club’s medical area, having not taken part in team training. Nunez is dealing with knee pain, which also kept him out of the sessions.
Both players did not participate in the full team drills on Thursday as the squad prepared for the Riyadh derby, casting a shadow over the visitors’ roster and forcing coaches to rethink their tactical plan.
Return and Derby Preview
In the reversal of fortune, Al Hilal announced that captain Salem Al-Dawsari has rejoined training after an extended spell out due to injury. The club posted video updates showing him interacting with the ball, captioned to reflect his return to group training, raising hopes that he could feature in the big clash.
The 34-year-old had recently been linked to the national team’s October Asian qualifiers, where he pressed through pain to help sustain Saudi Arabia’s progress. His leadership has long been a feature for both club and country, and his presence is seen as a potential game-changer for the derby against Al Shabab.
Meanwhile, Joao Cancelo has also returned to group training following a lengthy injury layoff. The Portuguese right-back’s comeback was shared by the club with footage from training ahead of the Riyadh derby, hinting at a possible return to the lineup after a hard-fought period on the sidelines.
Historically, Cancelo’s time at the club has been marked by both high displays and on-field disagreements, with his stint on the field and on the touchline never far from discussion. He had been sidelined since a September clash with Al Duhail, with the club later appointing Marcus Leonardo as a temporary replacement on the domestic list. The latest recovery updates suggest a careful plan to reintegrate him into competitive action.
Looking at the season so far, Al Hilal’s talismanic captain has appeared in six competitive matches this campaign—four in the league, one in the Asian Champions arrangement, and one in the national cup—contributing three assists and still awaiting his first goal of the campaign. The question remains whether he can be fully match-sharp in time for the derby as the squad plots a path toward the league title and continental ambitions.
As for the broader context, Cancelo’s return could be decisive if he regains his best form quickly, though the team must manage his workload to avoid a fresh spell on the sidelines. The club’s medical and coaching staff will be watching fitness levels closely as they prepare for a high-stakes clash. The latest updates underline a narrative of resilience and strategic rotation as Al Hilal balances depth with the pressure of a derby showdown against Al Shabab.
Glimmers of hope
The club also highlighted that Cancelo’s rejoin aligns with the wider plan to push for a successful run in both domestic and continental competitions, with November’s schedule featuring key fixtures including the Asian Champions League and domestic cup ties. The coming days will reveal whether the wave of comebacks translates into a sharper, more cohesive unit for the Riyadh derby and beyond.
Punchline 1: If injury reports were a sport, this season would be broadcasting on a loop—call it the longest highlight reel in the league. Punchline 2: Sneaky calendar: every time players return, the fixtures suddenly look like a packed obstacle course—nice to see them star in more than just training drills.
