Benzema strikes early as Al-Hilal cut Al-Nassr's lead to five points with 3-0 win over Al-Hazem

Key facts

• Al-Hilal defeated Al-Hazem 3-0 on May 2, 2026, at Ar-Rass Stadium.
• Karim Benzema scored in the 9th minute, his 17th league goal of the season.
• Marcos Leonardo doubled the lead in the 82nd minute after a VAR-disallowed goal.
• Ruben Neves converted a stoppage-time penalty (90+3') to seal the win.
• Al-Hilal trail leaders Al-Nassr by five points with a game in hand and four matches remaining.
• Al-Hilal generated 3.24 expected goals (xG) to Al-Hazem's 1.11.
• Al-Hilal are now unbeaten in the last nine league meetings between the sides.

A decisive response to an eight-point gap

Al-Hilal kept their Roshn Saudi League title hopes alive with a convincing 3-0 victory over Al-Hazem on Saturday. Trailing leaders Al-Nassr by eight points before kickoff, the reigning champions responded with a composed performance to reduce the gap and maintain pressure in the title race. The win cuts Al-Nassr's lead to five points, with Al-Hilal holding a game in hand and four matches still to play. The result ensures the defending champions remain firmly in contention as the season enters its final weeks.

Benzema's early breakthrough sets the tone

Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the ninth minute, capitalising on hesitant defending to tap Ruben Neves' deflected corner into an open net. The goal brought the French striker's league tally to 17 for the season, including seven match-opening strikes. Al-Hilal controlled proceedings from there, with Theo Hernandez and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic both testing the goalkeeper before halftime. At the other end, Abdurahman Al-Dakheel went close for Al-Hazem, but the visitors' defence held firm.

VAR drama and Leonardo's decisive strike

Sultan Mandash thought he had doubled Al-Hilal's lead when Marcos Leonardo's shot crashed off the post and into his path for a simple tap-in, but the goal was swiftly ruled out for offside after a VAR review. The reprieve was short-lived. In the 82nd minute, Leonardo slid in to convert Mandash's low cross into the bottom-left corner, making it 2-0. The Brazilian striker, who had come off the bench, finished clinically to give Al-Hilal breathing room.

Neves seals it from the spot

Ruben Neves added gloss to the scoreline in the third minute of stoppage time, finishing coolly from the penalty spot after Mohamed Kanno was felled in the box by Aboubacar Bah. The Portuguese midfielder's strike wrapped up a dominant performance. Al-Hilal ended the match with 3.24 expected goals (xG), while Al-Hazem managed only 1.11. The visitors' control of the game was reflected in the statistics, as they extended their unbeaten run in league meetings against Al-Hazem to nine matches.

Title race dynamics and squad depth

Despite the deficit, Al-Hilal remain firmly in the hunt, sitting five points behind Al-Nassr with a game in hand and four matches still to play. Al-Nassr were not in action until Sunday, giving Al-Hilal the chance to apply pressure. “Every game is difficult,” said Malcom after the match. “We played well and the most important thing is to win the three points. We continue to believe.” The Brazilian also highlighted the squad depth available to head coach Simone Inzaghi, pointing to the team’s collective strength as they push for a late title surge.

What lies ahead for the champions

With momentum building and belief intact, Al-Hilal remain determined to take the race down to the final weeks. The victory over Al-Hazem was a necessary step, but tougher tests await as they seek to defend their crown. Al-Hilal's ability to rotate effectively, as demonstrated by Leonardo's impact off the bench, will be crucial in the run-in. The champions have shown they can respond to pressure, but the margin for error is slim with Al-Nassr holding the advantage.

The bottom line

• Al-Hilal's 3-0 win over Al-Hazem cuts Al-Nassr's lead to five points, with a game in hand for the champions.
• Karim Benzema's ninth-minute goal was his 17th of the season, continuing his prolific form.
• Marcos Leonardo scored the decisive second goal after a VAR-disallowed effort, highlighting squad depth.
• Al-Hilal dominated statistically, with 3.24 xG to Al-Hazem's 1.11, and extended their unbeaten run against the side to nine matches.
• The title race remains alive, with four matches left and Al-Hilal holding a game in hand over leaders Al-Nassr.