Wahala dey for Saudi Pro League as dem don reshuffle plenty matches. The league body announce say some games wey suppose hold for matchweek 28 don postpone. The reason na because some clubs dey play for continental competitions like AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two. Na three matches dem postpone: Al Shabab vs Al Ittihad, Al Khaleej vs Al Hilal, and Al Ahli vs Al Fateh. Dem no announce new dates yet.
But as dem postpone some, dem bring forward others. Two matchweek 28 games, Al Najmah vs NEOM SC and Al Taawoun vs Al Kholood, go now play on April 11. Na to make sure players get enough rest. The league talk say dem discuss multiple scenarios with the clubs before dem finalise the new schedule.
For Al Hilal side, big news dey. Karim Benzema, the French striker wey join them from Al Ittihad, don return to full training. Benzema miss their last match against Al Taawoun because of toe injury. But now, Al Hilal announce for their X account say Benzema train with the team on Tuesday. That mean say he fit play against Al Kholood on Wednesday.
Since Benzema join Al Hilal for winter transfer window, he don play six matches, score five goals and give two assists. But injury don make him miss three games, including two against Al Taawoun and one against Al Shabab. His return na big boost for Al Hilal as dem dey chase Al Nassr for top of the table.
Al Hilal dey second place, five points behind Al Nassr. Dem no lose any match for this season, but dem draw 2-2 with Al Taawoun last Saturday. That draw make their unbeaten run reach 42 matches for all competitions. Coach Simone Inzaghi no too happy with that result, especially as dem conceed two goals after taking lead.
For Al Kholood side, dem dey 14th place with 26 points from 27 matches. Dem just six points above relegation zone, so every match important. Their coach Des Buckingham dey worry about defence as dem don conceed 50 goals this season. Only Al Akhdoud and Al Najma conceed pass them.
Al Hilal get other injury concerns. Salem Al-Dossari and Sultan Mandash return to training on Monday and fit play. But Hamad Al-Yami and Youssef Akchichek still dey injured. Darwin Nunez no dey registered again and no play since February.
Al Kholood miss Abdulmalik Al-Harbi for rest of season because of ACL injury. Myziane Maolida and Norbert Gyomber also no fit play. But apart from that, Buckingham get almost full squad.
The match go hold on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Kick-off na 11:30 pm India time. For UK, DAZN go stream the match. For other places, FanCode app and website go show am live.
Al Hilal don beat Al Kholood for their last three meetings. With Benzema back and dem playing at home, dem dey favourite to win. But Al Kholood sometimes show resilience away from home, and dem don score 20 goals for away matches this season. The match go test Al Hilal defence again.
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