We will discuss the five facts you need to know about Al Hilal, the Chelsea opponent in Club World Cup. Truly, they are the first hurdle Chelsea must overcome if they are to become world champions in Abu Dhabi this week 9th of February 2022.
The champions of Saudi Arabia reached tomorrow’s semi-final courtesy of a 6-1 over hosts Al Jazira on Sunday evening, a game in which they fell behind early on only to eventually record the biggest win in the competition’s history.
No doubt, Al Hilal have enjoyed plenty of success since their formation in 1957, winning 50 domestic trophies including a record 17 Saudi Professional League titles and a number of Arab regional competitions.
Five Facts about Al Hilal
1. Over 40 coaches
Al Hilal’s success has come in spite of regular managerial changes with nearly 40 coaches guiding the fortunes of the club since the turn of the millennium including former Portugal manager Artur Jorge, ex-Romania boss Anghel Iordenscu and current Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic.
The current occupant of the hot seat is Portuguese Leonardo Jardim who guided Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 2017 and also had spells in charge of Braga, Sporting Lisbon and Greek side Olympiacos. The 47-year-old replaced Brazilian Rogerio Micale last summer and led Al Hilal to a 2-0 win over Pohang Steelers in the AFC Champions League final in November.
2. Known International Players
Al Hilal’s squad is predominantly homegrown but there are a couple of recognisable faces in Leonardo Jardim’s squad – including a recent nemesis of Thomas Tuchel’s side.
The club’s squad is stocked with local and international talent. Nine of their players were recently called up for Saudi Arabia in the World Cup qualifiers and their international contingent includes Peru striker Andre Carrillo, Mali forward Moussa Marega, Colombia midfielder Gustavo Cuella and South Korea defender Jan Hyun-Soo.
Two of their other imports may be familiar to Chelsea supporters. Brazilian attacking midfielder Matheus Pereira scored twice in West Bromwich Albion’s shock 5-2 win at Stamford Bridge last season while Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo, who joined the club last week from their Riyadh rivals Al Shabab, played in Premier League games against the Blues for Watford and Manchester United.
3. Their Club Colour is Blue
Among the five facts about Al Hilal is that they also wear Blue. With Chelsea wearing yellow for the semi-final, Al Hilal will don their first-choice blue kit at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday and they will have the backing of the majority of fans there as they enjoy strong support throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
4. Second Club World Cup
Just like Chelsea, Al Hilal are making their second appearance in the Club World Cup following their debut in Qatar in 2019. On that occasion, the Saudi side made it past the second round with a 1-0 win over African champions Esperance of Tunisia and led at half-time against Libertadores champions Flamengo in the semi-finals before the Brazilian club hit back after the interval to win 3-1.
Al Hilal eventually finished fourth after losing a penalty shoot-out to Mexican outfit Monterrey in the third-place match following a 2-2 draw.
Al-Hilal was founded in 1957 and is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The football team competes in the Saudi Professional League. Al Hilal is one of four teams to have participated in all seasons of the Saudi Professional League since its establishment in 1976.
What time does Chelsea vs Al Hilal kick-off?
- Chelsea vs Al Hilal takes place on Wednesday, November 9.
- The match kicks off at 4.30 pm UK time – 8.30 pm in the United Arab Emirates.
- It takes place at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
- Chelsea and Al Hilal have never played each other.
Is Chelsea vs Al Hilal on TV and can I live-stream it?
- Yes. Chelsea vs Al Hilal is live on E4.
- Coverage commences at 4 pm – half an hour before kick-off.
- To live stream the game, head to the Channel 4 website.
Can I watch Chelsea vs Al Hilal for free?
- Yes. Chelsea vs Al Hilal is free for all UK viewers with a TV licence.
- Get your TV licence here.
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