Al-Hilal returned to the top of the Roshn Saudi League after a thrilling 3-2 win over Al-Ittihad at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Saturday, October 10, in the eighth round of the 2026-27 season. A crowd of 22,808 watched the Saudi Clasico, which ended Al-Ittihad's unbeaten start after seven league games.
Gabriel Martinelli gave the hosts an early lead before Youssef En-Nesyri levelled for Al-Ittihad. Ollie Watkins restored Al-Hilal's lead in the 30th minute, pouncing after Danilo Pereira failed to control a cross, and Crysencio Summerville made it 3-1 in the 64th minute. Steven Bergwijn scored an 89th-minute penalty for Al-Ittihad, awarded after a video review, but the visitors could not find an equaliser. Watkins scored once and set up the goals for Martinelli and Summerville.
"It was a high-level match, especially as we had just returned from the international break," Watkins said after the game.
A day earlier, on Friday, October 9, Al-Nassr beat Diriyah 3-0 at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh as the league resumed after a 25-day international break. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with the 980th goal of his career, Samu Costa headed in a João Félix corner in the 36th minute, and Kingsley Coman added the third in the 77th minute.
After the eighth round, Al-Hilal lead the table on 21 points, two points ahead of Al-Qadsiah and Al-Nassr, who both have 19. Al-Ittihad are fourth on 17 points. Diriyah, in their first season under Portuguese coach Bruno Lage, have 11 points.
The 2026-27 Roshn Saudi League season runs from August 13, 2026, to May 29, 2027, with 306 matches across 34 rounds.
