Al-Hilal tied for the second time – SPA lens
Al-Hilal stumbled to a draw for the second time in a row after a series of consecutive victories that began in the third round of the league, the round in which it tied with three against Al-Ahly, before the team regained its balance and continued its victories with consistency and strength, confirming its competitive character and its usual dominance over the local football scene.
This stumble, in itself, cannot be considered a shock or disaster, as the nature of football is based on fluctuations, and there is no team in the world capable of winning every match without exception.
It is logical to emphasize that Al-Hilal, in particular, is not an ordinary team until its stumble is measured by the standards of others. Last season, the “Blue” team achieved an unprecedented historical achievement, by entering the Guinness Book of World Records after recording 34 consecutive wins, a number that reflects the volume of technical work, tactical discipline, and high quality of the elements, and places Al-Hilal in the ranks of international teams in terms of continuity and success.
Therefore, Al Hilal fans – known for their awareness and high expectations – accept the principle of stumbling, and even realize that any team, no matter how strong, must go through technical and physical bumps during the long season, but what cannot be accepted or justified is how they stumbled, and the circumstances that accompanied the match, especially when the opponent is a team struggling for survival, and goes into the match with increased motivation and high fighting ferocity.
It could have been better than it was, if Al Hilal players had entered the two matches in the same spirit with which they are accustomed to appearing in big matches, and if the opponent had been treated with due football respect, not by names or in the order of the league table.
Those who followed the two matches clearly realize the amount of recklessness that dominated some periods of the match, whether in positioning, rushing, or even in the speed of decision-making, as if victory was guaranteed.
Football does not recognize names alone, nor does it recognize history alone. Rather, it rewards those who respect its small details, fight for every ball, and go into every match with a final mentality.
Teams competing for survival are often the most dangerous, because they play without calculations, exploiting any complacency or arrogance from the opponent, which is what actually happened.
Al Hilal has all the ingredients for a quick return. Stumbling may be more of a warning message than a failure, a message that confirms that maintaining the summit is more difficult than reaching it, and that the championship is not decided by a series of victories, but rather by a fixed mentality that respects the opponent before respecting the result.
In the end, Al Hilal will remain great with its history and fans, but greats are measured by their ability to correct mistakes and turn stumbles into lessons, no excuses. When Al Hilal plays with complete seriousness, it does not lose… and when it underestimates, even a draw seems like a loss.
Walid Bamrhoul
