Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a trademark header to help Al-Hilal bounce back from heartbreak to beat bottom placed Al-Raed 4-0 in their Saudi Pro League game on Thursday.
Match Report
Al-Hilal suffered their first taste of defeat during the 2023-2024 campaign by losing to Al-Nassr in the Leagues Cup final, with Cristiano Ronaldo bagging a brace.
However, Al-Hilal returned to winning ways on Thursday evening - beating Al-Raed thanks to goals from Mitrovic, Salem Aldawsari, Abdullah Al-Hamdan and Serej Milinkovic-Savic.
Mitrovic opened the scoring with a powerful header in the 42nd minute of the game - rising above his defender to fire the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
The Saudi Arabian side managed secure the win without Neymar, who became Al-Hilal's new superstar signing earlier this summer.
Neymar is nursing an ankle injury and will be sidelined for the next 4 weeks while he recovers and undergoes his rehab plan.
Nevertheless, Mitrovic enjoyed a perfect Saudi Pro League debut - scoring his side's first goal of the game in the 42nd minute.
Mitrovic was named in Al-Hilal's starting line up by manager Jorge Jesus after completing a summer transfer from Fulham.
Al Dawsari doubled the visitors lead by finding the back of the net from the penalty spot. Al-Hamdan and Milinkovic-Savic went on to extend their lead.
Line-ups
Al Raed XI: Amir Sayoud, Tavares, Mohammed Al-Dawsari, André Moreira, Abdullah Al-Fahad, Mamadou Loum, Oumar Gonzalez, Mohammed Al-Subaie, Yahya Sunbul, Mansour Al-Bishi, Bandar Wahishi
Subs: Nayef Hazazi, Raed Al-Ghamdi, Hamad Al-Jayzani, Ahmad Al-Harbi, Abdullah Yahya Maghrahi, Karim El Berkaoui, Firas Al-Ghamdi, Mubarak Al-Rajeh, Hamoud Bassam
Al Hilal XI: Mohammed Jahfali, Yasir Al Shahrani, Bounou, Salem Al Dawsari, Mitrovic, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom, Ali Albulayhi, Michael, Saud Abdulhamid
Subs: Abdullah Al Maiouf, Mohammed Kanoo, Mohammed Al Burayk, Muteb Al-Mufarrij, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Khalifah Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwayr, Mohammed Al-Qahtani
King_Martins_Lover
572
Can't wait to see you back on the pitch. Get well soon NEY!
Majboy
473
Strikers in Saudi League should start scoring their goals now because when the king starts scoring, no one is catching him
zerbigboy
162
tell mbappe Saudi pro League is better than farmers league one