Milestone Night for Al Hilal: A 4-0 Triumph Sparks Clean Sheet Comeback

A Night of Defensive Rebirth

Al Hilal Saudi crowned a month of struggle with a decisive 4-0 victory over Al Shorta in the fifth round of the Elite edition of the AFC Champions League, staged in Riyadh on November 25, 2025. The result capped a period in which the team had chased consistency and clean sheets alike, finally delivering the defensive solidity fans had craved.

The match showcased a return to form for the defense under Italian boss Simone Inzaghi, who had steered the side to a string of wins but had seen a rare stretch of goals conceded in past fixtures. The night proved that, when focused, Hilal can be watertight at the back even under pressure.

Portents of improvement appeared as November progressed, with a recent run that had produced clear sheets against strong opponents, despite the fact that the team had struggled to keep a clean sheet in a 270-minute window prior to tonight. The defense, however, held firm, even as the opponents pressed during stretches of the game.

Hilal continued the momentum with a 2-1 win over Al Fateh and a prior 4-2 victory against another opponent, while also weathering a 2-1 result against Al Grafa. The clean sheet against Al Shorta was the culmination of a month-long push to restore defensive reliability, a task the team accomplished with a composed display from backline and goalkeeper alike.

Inzaghi’s lineup shifts were notable. The veteran coach managed his squad carefully, resting several stars, including goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and giving Matéo Batouille his competitive debut. The French goalkeeper, acquired ahead of the season, was given an introduction to top-tier duty in a high-stakes clash, which the team navigated with aplomb.

On the field, Joao Cancelo returned to the starting lineup as Kalidou Koulibaly presided over a stable central pairing. The Portuguese fullback’s reintroduction helped steady the team, while the triad of Leonardo, Milinković-Savić, and Cancelo spearheaded attacks in a balanced, effective manner.

Remarkably, the night bore fruit beyond the scoreline. Marcus Leonardo opened and closed the scoring with the first and fourth goals, while Serge Milinković-Savić struck the decisive second in the 63rd minute and Cancelo added the fourth in stoppage time. The fifteen-point haul sees Hilal comfortably atop Group West, with Al Shorta stuck on a solitary point in eleventh place.

As a result, Hilal clinched a round-of-16 berth in the Elite competition, becoming the second team to qualify after UAE’s Al Wasl defeated Qatar’s Al Shani—er, S.D.—in the same round. The win also marked a personal milestone: the team reached 400 goals in the AFC Champions League Elite, a testament to a prolific season thus far.

In the aftermath, Inzaghi reshuffled once more, rotating personnel to manage fatigue. Bono’s rest allowed Batouille to take the spot, while Cancelo and Koulibaly anchored a defense that grew increasingly confident as the game wore on. With the domestic schedule still intense, the coaching staff will hope this defensive template travels well in the weeks ahead.

Two punchlines to brighten the post-match mood: If defense were a dating app, Hilal would already have a perfect clean-sheet profile—no likes, just locks. And if football ever needed a password, “0327” would surely be the one for this defense—strong, resilient, and occasionally a little mysterious. Now that’s what I call a solid firewall and a punchy finish.