๐กAl-Hilal matched their own record for the biggest win in Saudi Pro League history on Thursday, humiliating Al Fateh with a 9-0 victory to stay top of the table.
๐ฅThe reigning champions, who previously put nine goals past Al-Hazem early in their invincible 2023-24 campaign, were helped on their way by a Marcos Leonardo hat-trick.
โThey initially had to remain patient, with Kalidou Koulibaly opening the scoring after 20 minutes and Renan Lodi doubling their lead in the 39th minute, but Leonardo's first goal โ a penalty in first-half stoppage time โ saw the floodgates open.
๐งSergej Milinkovic-Savic made it 4-0 in the ninth minute of first-half additional time, then Leonardo got his second nine minutes after the restart to further increase their lead.
๐ถLeonardo's hat-trick goal was assisted by Ruben Neves just after the hour mark, then Abdullah Al Hamddan and Malcom struck late to put Al-Hilal within reach of their record margin of victory.
โFaisal Al Abdulwahed's 98th-minute own goal made it 9-0 before the struggling visitors saw Ziyad Al Jari sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.ย
๊ฆฏAl Fateh avoided shipping double figures in the final two minutes of stoppage time, though they remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just six points, six adrift of safety.
๐That victory took Jorge Jesus' leaders three points clear of title rivals Al-Ittihad, but goals from Karim Benzema and Steven Bergwijn helped the challengers clawย that gap back with a 4-1 win over Al-Raed.
๐Real Madrid icon Benzema pounced with a close-range finish to put Al-Ittihad ahead in the 21st minute, then Bergwijn struck from the edge of the D on the stroke of half-time.
๐ผNaif Hazazi's left-footed finish halved the arrears in the second half, but Abdulrahman Al Obud andย Houssem Aouar scored to put some gloss on the scoreline forย Al-Ittihad, who remain second on goal difference.
