More dropped points, but Neves rallies Al Hilal for another title push | OneFootball

Al Hilal may have let slip their place at the top of the Roshn Saudi League, but they’re by no means panicking.

Champions in 2023-24, they have even-more-recent experience of making up lost ground.

Like, two months ago. Back then, Al Hilal returned from the mid-season RSL break four points behind Al Nassr. Then they reeled off seven straight victories to conclude January seven points clear at the summit.

OK, Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Al Taawoun means, for the second successive matchweek, Simone Inzaghi's side won’t end the action perched at the peak.

Still with second-placed Al Nassr to play in this rescheduled Round 10, Al Hilal sit third, level on points with their Riyadh rivals and one back from current leaders Al Ahli. In what's turning out to be a title race for the ages, Brendan Rodgers' in-form Al Qadsiah are only three points off the top.

Yet, Al Hilal have stumbled of late. The result in Buraidah - Neves gave the visitors the lead from the spot on 41 minutes before Roger Martinez converted his own penalty in first-half injury-time - represented the capital club’s fifth draw in their past seven in the RSL.

“Was not the result we wanted,” Neves said after collecting a sixth Man of the Match award this season. “In the first half, mainly we deserved a little bit more - we played very good. The only chance they had was the penalty and it was a goal.”

Still, with another matchweek to come in a blink of an eye with Friday’s Riyadh derby at Al Shabab, Neves called for level heads.

“We were second until December [and] we did a fantastic January,” he said. “We went first. We are third now, I think… of course the team can come back.

“We came back in January. We still have three months to play; a lot of games to play.”