NAJRAN — Al Hilal kicked off their Saudi Pro League title defense in style, securing a commanding 3-0 victory over newly promoted Al Okhdood at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium. Al Hilal wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović opening the scoring in just the fourth minute. Mitrović doubled the lead in the 39th minute, before his fellow countryman Sergej Milinković-Savić sealed the win with a well-taken free-kick just before halftime. Despite the absence of key players Malcom and Saud Abdulhamid, Al Hilal showed little sign of weakness, with substitutes Mohammed Al Qahtani and Abdullah Al Hamdan delivering strong performances. This victory puts Al Hilal at the top of the league table alongside Al Qadsiah, with both teams having won their opening matches 3-0. In another match in the capital, Al Ettifaq secured a valuable 1-0 win against Al Shabab, with Moussa Dembélé scoring the decisive goal. The victory earned Al Ettifaq their first three points of the new season under the guidance of their English manager, Steven Gerrard, as they prepare to host Al Okhdood in the second round. Al Shabab, playing with a depleted squad due to the absence of several key foreign players, still managed to show flashes of quality. However, the team noticeably missed the presence of Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, who joined the club this summer but was sidelined due to injury.
