Theo Hernandez’s brace helped Al-Hilal to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Al-Kholood, moving them within two points of Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Nassr.
Al-Kholood stopped the visitors on the stroke of half-time despite their numerical disadvantage, but two quality moments from Hernandez sealed the match.
Juan Pablo Cozzani comfortably held on to Marcos Leonardo’s audacious overhead kick from the edge of the penalty area before Al-Kholood piled on the pressure, while Ramiro Enrique forced Mohammed Al Yami into a clever save at the other end.
But shortly afterwards, in the 37th minute, Abdulrahman Al Dosari was shown a straight red card following a VAR review after catching Leonardo high on the calf.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic then gave Al-Hilal the lead in the 45th minute, directing his long-range shot from the edge of the D into the bottom left corner.
However, he then gave away a penalty after a handball, which Enrique confidently gave away in the fifth minute of stoppage time of the first half.
It was all Al-Hilal after that, though, with Hernandez restoring the lead in the 61st minute when he grabbed the rebound from Milinkovic-Savic’s saved shot and fired home from the left side of the penalty area.
He secured all three points 23 minutes later, with the Serb whipping the ball towards him to change the angle of the free-kick, and Hernandez then fired into the bottom left corner.
points from Buraidah pic.twitter.com/fUqYDHKwMI
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) December 31, 2025
Elsewhere, Al-Qadsiah held on for a 3-2 win over Al-Shabab despite a late penalty, with Nahitan Nandez’s goal ultimately proving to be the winner.
Data debrief: Hernandez and Milinkovic-Savic shine lights
Hernandez had already scored three goals this season but added clinical attacking play at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.
He had a team-high five shots (level with Milinkovic-Savic) and scored with both attempts on target, but it was the Serbian who stole the show as he also created three chances.
Al-Hilal have now scored in each of their last 81 Saudi Pro League matches (232 goals in total), scoring more than 3 goals in 44 of them.
And they outperformed their expected goals (xG) here, with a total of 2.11 xG from 24 shots and Al-Kholood’s 1.12 from 11 attempts.
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