Koulibaly Back in the Fold as Al Hilal Brace for a Saudi Klassiker Against Al Ahli

Lineups and Key Moves

Kalidou Koulibaly has returned to the field for Al Hilal, resuming his starting role in the Saudi Pro League clash against their traditional rivals, Al Ahli. This comeback comes after a lengthy absence as the Senegalese defender had been with his national team for AFCON 2025 and returned with some lingering soreness.

The match is hosted by Al Hilal at Kingdom Arena on Monday, February 2, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 18:30 local time as the two giants renew their rivalry.

Coach Simone Inzaghi has trusted Koulibaly to line up at center-back beside Hassan Tambakti after the defender’s AFCON 2025 campaign; a return that anchors the defensive line for the leaders of the ZO league race.

On the other side, Darwin Nunez starts in the front line for Hilal, while the French forward Mohamed Qadir Miti sits on the bench and Brazilian Marcus Leonardo has been left out of the matchday squad.

Lineups for Al Hilal:

Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou
Defence: Meteb Alharbi — Kalidou Koulibaly — Hassan Tambkatti — Theo Hernandez
Midfield: Robin Neves — Serge Milinkovic-Savic — Mohammed Kano
Attack: Malcolm — Darwin Nunez — Salem Al-Dosari

Meanwhile, German coach Matias Jaissle fields a strong XI for Al Ahli, led by English striker Evan Toni alongside Riyad Mahrez and Wenderson Galeno. Rayan Hamed starts at center-back as a replacement for Merih Demiral, who misses the game with an injury.

Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy
Defence: Ali Majrashi — Rayan Hamed — Roger Ibanez — Zakaria Housawi
Midfield: Valentin Atangana — Frank Kisse — Enzo Milot
Attack: Riyad Mahrez — Evan Toni — Wenderson Galeno

This fixture is a pivotal chapter in the Saudi Pro League title race. Al Hilal leads the standings with 46 points, three clear of Al Ahli, who sit third on goal difference behind Nasr. The result could tilt the balance in a tight campaign.

What it means for the title race

With Koulibaly back in the lineup and Hilal aiming to extend their advantage, the expectations are high that the defense will keep the opposition at bay while the attack tries to unlock a stubborn Al Ahli backline. The clash is billed as a classic showdown with big names on both sides, and fans will be hoping for a spectacle worthy of a Klassiker.

As both teams chase the crown, coaches will be counting every border, angle, and set-piece to swing the momentum their way. If Hilal can maintain shape behind, the attacking trio of Malcolm, Nunez, and Al-Dosari may just supply the telling goals needed to separate the teams by the end of the night.

Humor break: If Koulibaly keeps this up, even the offside line will file a complaint for being too strict. Punchline level achieved. And if my predictions were as solid as his defensive blocks, I’d finally win my fantasy league—before the next fixture redefines the meaning of “sure thing.”