"Saudi Super Cup 2024 Final: Al Hilal and Al Nassr to Play Again"

The new Saudi football season started this week with fresh hopes, but for fans, it feels familiar. Al Hilal, who won three major trophies last year, and their biggest rival, Al Nassr, both won their matches to reach the Saudi Super Cup final in Abha.

These two top teams have faced each other six times in the past year, and on Saturday, they’ll meet for the seventh time. Al Hilal is looking for their fifth Super Cup win, while Al Nassr wants their third.

This Saturday’s game will be held at 7:15 PM at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium. It’s the first chance for either team to win a trophy this season, and it could set the tone for the rest of the year. Both teams are favorites to win the Saudi Pro League again, so a win here could give them a big confidence boost.

Al Nassr may feel the pressure to win more, as they haven’t beaten Al Hilal in their last five meetings. Last season, Al Hilal won the derby, knocked Al Nassr out of the Super Cup, and beat them in a King’s Cup final that ended in a penalty shootout.

That last match was thrilling for fans. Al Hilal took an early lead with a goal from Aleksandar Mitrovic, but even after Al Nassr’s goalkeeper David Ospina was sent off, they stayed in the game. Al Hilal also had two players sent off late in the game, and Al Nassr scored an equalizer. But Al Hilal, with only nine players, held on and won the game in a penalty shootout.

In the semifinal, Al Nassr looked ready for action. They played aggressively against Al Taawoun, with Ayman Yahya scoring the first goal and Cristiano Ronaldo adding another. Though Al Nassr gave up many chances, they didn’t allow any goals. Their new goalkeeper, Bento, kept a clean sheet, but midfielder Marcelo Brozovic got a red card and will miss the final.

Al Hilal had a tougher time in their semifinal but still found a way to win. Roberto Firmino gave Al Ahli the lead, but Mitrovic saved the day for Al Hilal with a last-minute header that forced a penalty shootout. Al Hilal scored all their penalties, while two of Al Ahli’s players missed, sending Al Hilal to the final.

One key battle to watch will be between Kalidou Koulibaly of Al Hilal and Sadio Mane of Al Nassr. These two Senegal teammates have faced each other often, with Koulibaly doing a good job of stopping Mane. Though Mane usually plays on the left, where he’ll face right-back Saud Abdulhamid, he may still go up against Koulibaly during the game.

Prediction: Based on how both teams played in the semifinals, Al Nassr looks ready to break Al Hilal’s dominance. It will likely be a close game, but Al Nassr seems more in need of this win. Ronaldo might be the one to lead them to victory in Abha.