Italian coach Simone Inzaghi of Al Hilal said he was pleased with the big victory over Ettifaq, a 5-0 win on Saturday evening at Ego Stadium in Dammam, in the fifth round of the Saudi Pro League.
After the match, Inzaghi said: "Our ambition is to win every game. We were held back by draws early in the season, but we are determined to keep the winning streak alive."
"We studied Ettifaq carefully and the players delivered a brilliant display, including those returning from international duty. We controlled the match in both halves and secured a strong win," he added.
"There is usually some anxiety after a break as some players' form dips, but today the focus returned and our internationals performed at their best," Inzaghi continued.
"We faced a tough opponent like Ettifaq and the performance was good. We led by two at halftime and extended the advantage in the second half. I congratulate all the players; we fielded Ali Lajami and Ali Al-Bulaihi based on recent training and they gave a memorable effort. We are awaiting Hamad Al-Yami's medical report, and we also lost Cancelo to injury earlier."
"Before the match with Al Ittihad we have an important AFC Champions League Elite clash with Al Sadd. We know they are strong and we won't think about Al Ittihad until after facing Al Sadd."
"Salem Al-Dosari deserves the Best Player in Asia award, and I am glad to have him with the team. Fans want to see him on the pitch and enjoy his contributions."
Al-Shahri: Al Hilal has become stronger than necessary
Al-Ettifaq coach Al-Shahri admitted the heavy defeat, saying: "The sequence of goals forced us to open up the game, and Ettifaq deserves better. The league's bigger teams are getting stronger and it's tough to face them at their peak."
He added: "We can’t label the break as purely negative or positive; if we want to beat teams like Al Hilal, we must be at our best."
"Big clubs like Al Hilal, Al Nasr, and Al Ittihad are getting stronger when they are at their peak," he noted. "We remain optimistic and avoid one-on-one battles where possible."
He concluded: "Blessings to everyone and good luck to Ettifaq. The next match against Al Fateh is the most important for us."
Al-Hilal recalls the memory of five-goal wins
The victory reminded fans of the five-goal wins that defined Hilal’s era, including a memorable 5-0 against Ettifaq and past exploits under Jorge Jesus.
The last clean-sheet five-goal win by the blue club came 280 days earlier, in January 2025, after a King’s Cup exit against Al Ittihad. This season has featured several high-scoring performances, although Bono’s absence was felt in earlier fixtures.
In league play, Hilal has displayed five-goal thrillers, such as a 5-3 win over Al Raed and a 5-1 victory over Al Kholod, though this match marked a return to the pristine defensive showing with Bono’s presence on the field.
On the other hand, Ettifaq failed to break their hex against Hilal, the two teams’ rivalry stretching back to 2018 with Hilal holding the upper hand in most clashes. Transfermarkt statistics show Ettifaq’s last 15 league meetings with Hilal resulted in two draws and 13 defeats.
Malcolm returns and Bono reaches a milestone
The match saw Brazilian Malcolm Filipe return after a 29-day absence following an ankle issue sustained against Al Ahli in September.
Meanwhile, Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bono logged his 100th appearance for the club, keeping a clean sheet in this game. Bono had 99 caps prior to the Ettifaq clash and 38 shutouts in total.
Hilal announced last week that Bono’s contract had been extended through summer 2028.
Punchlines: If goal-scoring were a hobby, Ettifaq just bought a lifetime membership. If football were a shopping spree, Inzaghi’s side just filled the trophy cabinet; the only thing missing is a spare shelf for all these five-goal memories.
