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.
2023/2024 Saudi Professional League
0-4
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