Al Ittihad Tightens Grip on Saudi Title as Al Hilal Stumbles Against Al Shabab

Al Ittihad extended their lead at the summit of the Saudi Pro League to six points by staging a comeback to secure a 3-2 victory against Al Ittifaq, while title contenders Al Hilal settled for a 2-2 draw against Al Shabab on Monday.

Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Al Fateh in their prior encounter, Al Ittihad rallied back to earn 68 points with five matches left in the season.

Al Ittifaq struck first in the fifth minute through Vitinho, whose powerful shot was deflected into the back of the net. However, Al Ittihad found an equaliser six minutes later when Karim Benzema delivered a low cross to Danilo Pereira, who finished with ease from close range.

Benzema then put his side ahead ten minutes before the break, capitalising on a defensive blunder to get behind the goalkeeper and score effortlessly.

Just before half-time, Houssem Aouar increased Al Ittihad’s advantage to 3-1, converting a low cross from Moussa Diaby.

While opportunities were scarce in the second half, the match turned tense in the dying minutes as Al Ittifaq pulled one back with an own goal from Danilo seven minutes before the final whistle.

Al Hilal Stumbles

Al Hilal managed to close the gap at the top to four points last week, but their chances of defending their title now appear slim.

Daniel Podence opened the scoring for Al Shabab in the seventh minute with a precise long-range effort, although Sergej Milinkovic-Savic equalised for the home side in the 31st minute, netting after a clever assist from Salem Al-Dawsari.

In the closing moments of the first half, Aleksandar Mitrovic almost put Al Hilal in front but missed the target with a volley, striking wide of the left post.

Salem converted to make it 2-1 for Al Hilal shortly after half-time, receiving a through-ball from Malcom and finishing from close distance.

However, Mohammed Al-Shuwaikh levelled the score for Al Shabab in the 68th minute, scoring with a powerful header from a Podence corner.

Three minutes later, Yannick Carrasco thought he had scored another for Al Shabab, but his goal was called offside.

Haroun Camara squandered a chance to put Al Shabab ahead in the 82nd minute, missing the target in a one-on-one situation.

Al Hilal pressed hard in the remaining minutes, desperately seeking a winning goal, but Mitrovic saw his header strike the crossbar from close range, and Malcom failed to find the net during stoppage time with a weak attempt.