Roberto Mancini’s Al-Ittihad delivered a stunning blow to Al-Hilal’s historic unbeaten run, securing a dramatic 3-1 victory in the Saudi Clasico on Monday night. The result at Al-Awwal Park Stadium ends Al-Hilal’s world-record streak of 34 consecutive wins across all competitions.
The match began with Al-Hilal asserting their usual dominance. Their pressure paid off in the 39th minute when Sergej Milinković-Savić rose highest to head home a cross, giving the league leaders a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
However, the second half told a completely different story. Al-Ittihad emerged transformed. The equalizer came in the 52nd minute through a powerful header from defender Ahmed Hegazi, changing the momentum of the clash.
The turnaround was completed just four minutes later. In the 56th minute, Moroccan star Abderrazak Hamdallah found the net to put the Tigers in front, sending shockwaves through the stadium.
Al-Hilal pushed for an equalizer but were caught on the break in stoppage time. Fabinho sealed the famous win for Al-Ittihad, scoring the third goal in the 90+11th minute to confirm a monumental upset.
In his post-match comments, Mancini did not hold back in his praise for the opponents his team had just defeated. “We faced the best team in the region, and perhaps even beyond the region,” the Italian manager stated. “Al-Hilal is an extraordinary team, but my players were fantastic today. We executed our plan perfectly in the second half.”
This defeat is Al-Hilal’s first in any competition since September 2023. Despite the loss, they remain firmly at the top of the Roshn Saudi League table. Meanwhile, this vital three points strengthens Al-Ittihad’s position as they continue their push for AFC Champions League qualification next season.
