Match Overview
On September 25, 2025 Al‑Hilal walked into the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh and turned a seemingly tricky opening against Al‑Okhdoud into a comfortable 3‑1 win. The home side pressed from the first whistle, forcing the league’s bottom club into a defensive shell that never quite held up.
Al‑Okhdoud grabbed an early foothold when Khaled Narey slipped a low finish past the keeper in the 14th minute. The goal sparked a brief burst of hope for the winless visitors, but Al‑Hilal quickly responded. A first‑half stoppage‑time strike from Theo Hernández restored parity, and the floodgates opened after the break.
Marcos Leonardo, wearing the number 10 shirt, stole the limelight with two goals – one just before the hour‑mark and another late on in the 79th minute. His finish in the 45th minute turned the game decisively in Al‑Hilal’s favor, while his second effort sealed the result. The Uruguayan forward who had just joined the squad was on the bench, watching the action unfold.
The final whistle confirmed a 3‑1 scoreline, leaving Al‑Okhdoud still stranded at the bottom of the Saudi Pro League without a point from four matches, while Al‑Hilal moved up to eight points, matching their early‑season ambition.
Nunez’s Integration and What It Means for Al‑Hilal
Only weeks after arriving from Liverpool for a reported €53 million, Darwin Nunez is already being talked about as a key piece of Simone Inzaghi’s attacking puzzle. The 26‑year‑old has logged two goals for the Saudi giants – one in the league and another in a domestic cup tie – and his presence is already shifting how the team moves forward.
Inzaghi’s system relies on quick interchanges between the midfield and the forward line. Players like Rubén Neves and João Cancelo have the freedom to push high, while the striker’s role is to stretch defenses and create space for the likes of Marcos Leonardo and Aleksandar Mitrović. Nunez’s pace and ability to hold up the ball give Inzaghi more options when breaking down compact sides.
Beyond the numbers, the Uruguayan’s adaptation off the pitch has been smooth. He’s settled into Riyadh’s routine, picked up the language basics, and is often seen sharing a laugh with teammates during training. That camaraderie translates into chemistry on the field, something Inzaghi values as he fine‑tunes his lineup.
Al‑Hilal’s early season record – two wins and two draws, seven goals scored and five conceded – shows a side still finding its defensive balance but already potent up front. With Nunez now fully integrated, the squad gains a fresh spark that could keep them competitive both in the league and in the upcoming Club World Cup matches.
Looking ahead, the next few fixtures will test whether Al‑Hilal can sustain this momentum. If Nunez continues to find the net and link up with Leonardo, the team could well become the benchmark for Saudi clubs aiming to attract European talent and challenge for continental honors.