Simone Inzaghi springs selection surprise as Mahzari starts and Darwin Nunez features for Al-Hilal | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi startled Al-Hilal supporters with his line-up to face MC Alger in a friendly, starting new right-back Mohamed Mahzari and naming Darwin Nunez up front.

Al-Riyadiah reports that Mahzari and Ruben Neves underwent physical and fitness checks on Wednesday morning, leaving their involvement uncertain, with Mahzari only linking up with the Austrian camp last Monday after signing from Al-Taawoun.

New Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, recruited from West Ham United, was named among the substitutes and could get minutes after the interval.

Nunez started despite reports pointing to a summer exit, or at least omission from the domestic list. Inzaghi paired him with Ivorian forward Mohamed Kader Meite, with Brazilian winger Malcom, also linked with a move away, completing the attack.

Al-Hilal’s XI: Mohammed Al-Owais in goal, a back four of Mohamed Mahzari, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ali Lajami, Mutaib Al-Harbi, a midfield three of Nasser Al-Dawsari, Suhaib Al-Zaid, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and a front three of Malcom, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Kader Meite.

This is the third match of their Austrian training camp. They beat Sturm Graz 2-1, then defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0. The camp concludes on three August against Qatar’s Al-Ahli before a return to Riyadh for the 2026-2027 season build-up.

Source: Goal.com