Full Breakdown
Al Hilal’s 47-Match Unbeaten Run Halted by Neom’s 2-0 Victory
9/8/2026, 6:19:12 AM
Al Hilal’s Unbeaten Streak Ends
Al Hilal’s record-setting run of 47 consecutive Saudi Pro League matches without defeat was broken after a 2-0 loss to Neom in the league’s sixth round. The defeat ended a sequence that had comprised 35 wins and 12 draws, making it the second-longest unbeaten run in the competition’s history.
Record Context
Al Ahli holds the league record with 51 unbeaten matches, achieved between January 2014 and January 2016. Prior to the loss, Al Hilal were four games short of equalling that mark. Their earlier best run—46 matches from May 2023 to November 2024—had already surpassed the club’s historic high.
Match Details
Neom took the lead in the 15th minute when Kalidou Koulibaly scored an own goal. Amadou Kone added a second shortly before halftime, giving the visitors a comfortable cushion. Al Hilal’s lineup featured three recent Premier League signings—Crysencio Summerville, Ollie Watkins and Gabriel Martinelli—but none managed to find the net. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was forced to withdraw after a warm-up injury; Mohammed Al-Owais replaced him for the match.
League Implications
Despite the loss, Al Hilal remain atop the table with 15 points, three points clear of Al Nassr and Al Qadsiah, each of which has played one fewer match. Neom’s win lifted them to 12 points, moving the club into fourth place and level with Al Qadsiah and Al Nassr. The result narrows Al Hilal’s margin for error as the season progresses and forces the club to restart its pursuit of Al Ahli’s unbeaten record.
Key Player Movements
The fixture marked Gabriel Martinelli’s first start for Al Hilal after completing his transfer from Arsenal. The three-forward trio from the English Premier League—Summerville, Watkins and Martinelli—were unable to break the deadlock, underscoring the challenge of integrating new signings into a high-performing side.
