Marcos Leonardo shines with hat-trick in Al Hilal’s historic 9-0 victory over Al Fateh

Marcos Leonardo


Al Hilal delivered a stunning performance in their 9-0 victory over Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League. The match, held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on January 16, 2025, showcased the team’s dominance under coach Jorge Jesus. With standout individual performances, including a hat-trick by Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo, the game entered history as one of the most impressive wins of the season in Saudi football.

From the outset, Al Hilal demonstrated superiority. The scoring opened with Kalidou Koulibaly capitalizing on a precise corner kick to score with a header. The team then increased their lead through goals by Renan Lodi and Marcos Leonardo. Before the first half concluded, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic added another, ending the period with a commanding 4-0 scoreline.

The second half mirrored the first, with Al Hilal maintaining relentless pressure. Marcos Leonardo completed his hat-trick with two more goals, while Malcom and others added to the tally. Struggling throughout the season, Al Fateh could not mount a response, culminating in one of the heaviest defeats in their history.

Al Hilal’s dominance in the Saudi Pro League

This victory solidified Al Hilal’s position as the league leader, with 37 points earned from 14 matches. The team boasts the best attack, having scored 39 goals, and the strongest defense, conceding only 14. Under Jorge Jesus, the squad displays an offensive and disciplined playing style, blending individual talent with strong tactical organization.

Players such as Marcos Leonardo, Malcom, and Milinkovic-Savic have been key to the team’s success. Their contributions go beyond goals, as they play crucial roles in Al Hilal’s fluid and unpredictable attacking strategies.

A commanding first half and offensive strategy

Kalidou Koulibaly opened the scoring for Al Hilal in the 20th minute with a header, assisted by Nasser Aldawsari. Minutes later, Renan Lodi doubled the lead with a precise strike. In the 45th minute, Marcos Leonardo converted a penalty, bringing the score to 3-0. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic capped off the first half with a goal in stoppage time, making it 4-0.

Jorge Jesus employed a clear strategy: high pressing and exploiting defensive weaknesses. This approach allowed Al Hilal to dominate possession and create numerous scoring opportunities, leaving Al Fateh struggling to keep up.

Marcos Leonardo: the star of the game

Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo was undoubtedly the star of the match, scoring three of Al Hilal’s nine goals. His hat-trick included a penalty, a precise finish assisted by Ruben Neves, and a third goal showcasing his sharp positioning inside the box.

Beyond his goals, Marcos Leonardo was instrumental in creating attacking plays, using intelligent movement and decisive passes. His consistent performances have been crucial to Al Hilal’s success, cementing his role as a key figure in the team.

Al Fateh’s struggles and season challenges

While Al Hilal celebrates their excellent form, Al Fateh faces a contrasting scenario. With just six points from 14 games, the team is at the bottom of the Saudi Pro League table. The 9-0 defeat highlighted defensive frailties and disciplinary issues, including a red card for Ziyad Maher Al-Jari late in the match.

Al Fateh’s statistics this season are alarming. The team has scored only 12 goals while conceding 26, reflecting their struggles on both ends of the pitch. The lack of positive results and mounting pressure make relegation a looming reality.

Match statistics and key highlights

  1. Al Hilal dominated possession with 64%, controlling both offensive and defensive actions.
  2. The team attempted 21 shots, with 11 on target, compared to Al Fateh’s 5 total attempts.
  3. Marcos Leonardo scored three goals, achieving a standout hat-trick performance.
  4. The match included 4 yellow cards and 1 red card, underscoring Al Fateh’s disciplinary challenges.
  5. Al Hilal earned 11 corner kicks, effectively utilizing set-piece opportunities.

Head-to-head history and season performance

Over the past 14 meetings in Riyadh, Al Hilal has won 10 matches, drawn one, and lost three against Al Fateh. The gap in quality between the teams has been further emphasized this season, with Al Hilal leading the league while Al Fateh struggles at the bottom.

Last season, Al Hilal won both matches against Al Fateh, with scores of 3-1 at home and 2-0 away. These results highlight the consistent dominance of Jorge Jesus’s squad in recent years.

Jorge Jesus’s impact at Al Hilal

Since his arrival, Jorge Jesus has implemented an aggressive and organized style of play that has yielded remarkable results. Blending individual talent with tactical discipline, the Portuguese coach has transformed Al Hilal into one of the most feared teams in the region.

Under his leadership, Al Hilal has achieved significant titles and maintained competitiveness across all competitions. The 9-0 victory over Al Fateh adds another chapter to the team’s successful journey.

Upcoming challenges for Al Hilal in the Saudi League

Al Hilal’s next match is against Al-Wehda FC Mecca in the Saudi Pro League. The team aims to maintain momentum and extend their lead at the top of the table, while their opponents seek stability in the competition.

With high confidence and a well-performing squad, Al Hilal enters as the clear favorite. Expectations are for the team to continue their offensive and consistent football, ensuring their place as league leaders.

Al Hilal delivered a stunning performance in their 9-0 victory over Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League. The match, held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on January 16, 2025, showcased the team’s dominance under coach Jorge Jesus. With standout individual performances, including a hat-trick by Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo, the game entered history as one of the most impressive wins of the season in Saudi football.

From the outset, Al Hilal demonstrated superiority. The scoring opened with Kalidou Koulibaly capitalizing on a precise corner kick to score with a header. The team then increased their lead through goals by Renan Lodi and Marcos Leonardo. Before the first half concluded, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic added another, ending the period with a commanding 4-0 scoreline.

The second half mirrored the first, with Al Hilal maintaining relentless pressure. Marcos Leonardo completed his hat-trick with two more goals, while Malcom and others added to the tally. Struggling throughout the season, Al Fateh could not mount a response, culminating in one of the heaviest defeats in their history.

Al Hilal’s dominance in the Saudi Pro League

This victory solidified Al Hilal’s position as the league leader, with 37 points earned from 14 matches. The team boasts the best attack, having scored 39 goals, and the strongest defense, conceding only 14. Under Jorge Jesus, the squad displays an offensive and disciplined playing style, blending individual talent with strong tactical organization.

Players such as Marcos Leonardo, Malcom, and Milinkovic-Savic have been key to the team’s success. Their contributions go beyond goals, as they play crucial roles in Al Hilal’s fluid and unpredictable attacking strategies.

A commanding first half and offensive strategy

Kalidou Koulibaly opened the scoring for Al Hilal in the 20th minute with a header, assisted by Nasser Aldawsari. Minutes later, Renan Lodi doubled the lead with a precise strike. In the 45th minute, Marcos Leonardo converted a penalty, bringing the score to 3-0. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic capped off the first half with a goal in stoppage time, making it 4-0.

Jorge Jesus employed a clear strategy: high pressing and exploiting defensive weaknesses. This approach allowed Al Hilal to dominate possession and create numerous scoring opportunities, leaving Al Fateh struggling to keep up.

Marcos Leonardo: the star of the game

Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo was undoubtedly the star of the match, scoring three of Al Hilal’s nine goals. His hat-trick included a penalty, a precise finish assisted by Ruben Neves, and a third goal showcasing his sharp positioning inside the box.

Beyond his goals, Marcos Leonardo was instrumental in creating attacking plays, using intelligent movement and decisive passes. His consistent performances have been crucial to Al Hilal’s success, cementing his role as a key figure in the team.

Al Fateh’s struggles and season challenges

While Al Hilal celebrates their excellent form, Al Fateh faces a contrasting scenario. With just six points from 14 games, the team is at the bottom of the Saudi Pro League table. The 9-0 defeat highlighted defensive frailties and disciplinary issues, including a red card for Ziyad Maher Al-Jari late in the match.

Al Fateh’s statistics this season are alarming. The team has scored only 12 goals while conceding 26, reflecting their struggles on both ends of the pitch. The lack of positive results and mounting pressure make relegation a looming reality.

Match statistics and key highlights

  1. Al Hilal dominated possession with 64%, controlling both offensive and defensive actions.
  2. The team attempted 21 shots, with 11 on target, compared to Al Fateh’s 5 total attempts.
  3. Marcos Leonardo scored three goals, achieving a standout hat-trick performance.
  4. The match included 4 yellow cards and 1 red card, underscoring Al Fateh’s disciplinary challenges.
  5. Al Hilal earned 11 corner kicks, effectively utilizing set-piece opportunities.

Head-to-head history and season performance

Over the past 14 meetings in Riyadh, Al Hilal has won 10 matches, drawn one, and lost three against Al Fateh. The gap in quality between the teams has been further emphasized this season, with Al Hilal leading the league while Al Fateh struggles at the bottom.

Last season, Al Hilal won both matches against Al Fateh, with scores of 3-1 at home and 2-0 away. These results highlight the consistent dominance of Jorge Jesus’s squad in recent years.

Jorge Jesus’s impact at Al Hilal

Since his arrival, Jorge Jesus has implemented an aggressive and organized style of play that has yielded remarkable results. Blending individual talent with tactical discipline, the Portuguese coach has transformed Al Hilal into one of the most feared teams in the region.

Under his leadership, Al Hilal has achieved significant titles and maintained competitiveness across all competitions. The 9-0 victory over Al Fateh adds another chapter to the team’s successful journey.

Upcoming challenges for Al Hilal in the Saudi League

Al Hilal’s next match is against Al-Wehda FC Mecca in the Saudi Pro League. The team aims to maintain momentum and extend their lead at the top of the table, while their opponents seek stability in the competition.

With high confidence and a well-performing squad, Al Hilal enters as the clear favorite. Expectations are for the team to continue their offensive and consistent football, ensuring their place as league leaders.

Post Comment

You May Have Missed