Milinkovic-Savic Calls for Unity: Al-Hilal Wins the Derby, but Defensive Questions Remain

Standing in the stands of Kingdom Arena during the Riyadh derby, I witnessed Al-Hilal overcome Al-Shabab with a 3-2 scoreline. This victory allowed the reigning Roshn League champions to maintain a perfect record of 15 points from 5 matches, sitting alone at the top of the table. But what caught my attention was not the three goals or the performances of the attacking stars. It was the cautious statement from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, the Serbian midfielder who understands better than anyone that narrow derby victories never form a solid foundation for a long season.

The context of this match goes beyond a city derby. Al-Hilal is undergoing the largest squad transition in the club's history. They have spent over $100 million in the summer transfer window to bring in blockbuster signings, replacing nearly half of their starting lineup. Al-Shabab, despite lacking equivalent squad depth, remains one of the most annoying opponents in Saudi Arabia with their high-pressing style and wide speed. When you enter a derby with 60% of your squad being new, cohesion is the most luxurious thing you can have.

The numbers are telling me that Al-Hilal dominated possession with 63% and took 17 shots, but these figures hide the reality that they had to come from behind twice before securing the victory. Their attacking power is built on individual moments of brilliance rather than a well-organized team structure. Look at how they conceded: both goals came from set-pieces and fast counter-attacks - typical weaknesses of a team in the process of rebuilding its defense.

When Milinkovic-Savic speaks of 'unity', he is not just talking about fighting spirit on the pitch. I have watched his matches since his Serie A days, and he has always been a player who reads the game meticulously. His statement about needing to improve for bigger matches ahead is not typical post-derby pleasantries from a winning player. It is an admission from a dressing room leader that this victory is masking serious structural cracks.

Numbers don't lie, but the people who write financial reports do. And those writing Al-Hilal's performance reports are doing their job very well. When I reviewed the match footage, I noticed something interesting: Al-Hilal mainly scored from the 70th minute onwards - the period when Al-Shabab began showing signs of fatigue. In the first 60 minutes, they were nearly stuck against an organized defensive block.

This reveals a tactical issue I have consistently observed in Al-Hilal this season: they rely too heavily on individual moments of inspiration to break deadlocks. They can maintain a winning streak, but in the harsh environment of the Asian Champions League or derbies against Al-Nassr, relying on individual moments is a very risky proposition.

The contract I found is buried under three layers of annexes and one layer of silence. No. But the contract data of Al-Hilal players shows they are building their squad with some of the highest wages in the league. With that level of investment, expectations go beyond domestic titles to competing on the continental stage. This creates enormous pressure on the Portuguese tactician who must balance integrating new signings with maintaining results.

One blind spot I notice in how media covers Al-Hilal is the exclusive focus on their attack. But the stamina of the midfield is the real issue. Watching their matches, I see Milinkovic-Savic frequently dropping deep to participate in build-up play from their own half. This suggests their central midfield lacks a true organizer. He carries the ball forward from the backline, but when he pushes up, the space behind him becomes exploitable - which is why Al-Shabab had many dangerous counter-attacking opportunities.

Football isn't clean, but financial reports teach me how to find the stains line by line. And in modern football, the most important line is not goals but the spaces between lines. From this derby, I noted: Al-Hilal lost possession in dangerous areas at least 27 times, where unsafe lateral passes in midfield created counter-attacking opportunities for the opposition. Despite 5 straight wins, their expected goals against (xGA) is alarmingly high compared to other top teams.

There is an interesting paradox: the lack of a true defensive midfielder forces attacking players to constantly drop back and help, diminishing their ability to create impact in the final third. You can see this in how Al-Hilal's wingers completed only 2 successful dribbles in the first half - a modest number given the quality of their squad.

The silence of the dressing room sometimes speaks louder than official statements. After the derby, there was an image I cannot forget: Milinkovic-Savic having a very long conversation with the head coach in the tunnel. They were not smiling. That was not a conversation between people who just won. I wondered what aspects of the match they were discussing - perhaps about how the team lost control of midfield at various moments despite having numerical superiority.

I remember the 2026 World Cup in Russia, where I discovered the Russian players' extraordinary fitness levels. I said: 'Russian fitness is not a gym matter; it's a laboratory matter.' Now, looking at Al-Hilal in this derby, I have a similar feeling about their physical condition. Not that they are weak, but they are hiding tactical disconnection with physicality and individual quality. Against an opponent who knows how to exploit weaknesses over 90 minutes, they could face serious trouble.

Digging into the data, I noticed that in the first half when Al-Shabab was still fresh, Al-Hilal could barely build up coherently from their own half. They completed only 73% of their passes in their own half in the first 45 minutes - a very unusual number for a team considered the number one title contender. This number rose to 89% in the second half when the opponent dropped deeper and ceded control. But in an important match, you cannot wait until the opponent tires before you start playing.

A question arises: is this winning streak the true picture of Al-Hilal, or are they being lucky against weaker teams? Personally, I think the answer lies in between. Al-Hilal certainly has the best squad quality in the league, but the lack of complete tactical rehearsal in the early season is evident. They have 3 consecutive away matches ahead, including a trip to a high-flying team. This will be the real test.

I once uncovered hidden contracts in Busan IPark's financial reports that nobody noticed. Now, the hidden problems in Al-Hilal's tactics are also lying right in front of everyone. They don't need a tactical revolution; they just need to solve the transition problem from defense to attack and find a formula to shield the backline better. With high-quality players on the bench, squad rotation will be key.

Milinkovic-Savic's call for unity is justified. In recent seasons, big-spending teams have often collapsed due to lack of cohesion among stars. Unity comes not only from the dressing room but also from each player understanding their role in the system. When a team has unity, they can overcome difficult periods. Al-Hilal has it at this moment, but the critical question is whether they can maintain this unity throughout the long season when the first defeats arrive.

I have witnessed many teams starting a season with 5 straight wins but ending without any trophies. Winning the derby today guarantees nothing. With the Roshn League becoming increasingly competitive, where clubs like Al-Nassr with Cristiano Ronaldo or Al-Ittihad with their expensive attacking trio keep strengthening, every small mistake will cost points.

My match report concludes with a note: Al-Hilal got the victory, got 3 points, got top spot, but the question about their tactical stability remains open. And for a team with continental ambitions, the answers will come in the coming months. They will have no margin for error in upcoming derbies as opponents have now seen the clear spaces in how they operate.