Al Hilal’s hopes of taking full control in Group H of the 2025 Club World Cup took a hit as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by RB Salzburg in Washington DC. Despite dominating possession and territory, the Saudi giants failed to find a breakthrough against a disciplined Austrian defence.
Played at Audi Field, the match quickly turned into a stale affair with few meaningful chances. Al Hilal’s Brazilian-led frontline, spearheaded by Marcos Leonardo and Malcom, struggled to make a significant impact in the absence of their injured talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The game’s clearest chance fell to Leonardo in the 20th minute, but the striker’s effort was denied on the line by Salzburg defender Rasmus Kristensen. It was the closest Al Hilal came to scoring in a match where they had all the ball but little end product.
Salzburg, for their part, offered a few dangerous moments on the counter. Early in the second half, they nearly stunned Al Hilal when Baidoo forced a sharp save from Bono, and Nene’s rebound looked destined to hit the net before Kalidou Koulibaly made a crucial goal-line clearance.
Though Al Hilal controlled much of the first half, their attacking rhythm declined after the break. Manager Simone Inzaghi’s substitutions failed to inject the necessary spark, and the Saudis ran out of ideas against a compact Salzburg side.
The result leaves both teams without a win in Group H and increases the pressure ahead of their final group matches. Al Hilal’s lack of cutting edge and over-reliance on wide play will be a concern going forward, especially with tougher tests looming in the knockout rounds. With Real Madrid and Manchester City looming as potential opponents, Al Hilal must rediscover their scoring touch quickly or risk an early exit from the tournament.