Al-Hilal Faces Old Curse in Buraidah Showdown Against Al-Taawoun

Al-Hilal walk into Buraidah on Saturday carrying more than just league-leading form. They carry a superstition they thought they had buried.

The Saudi Roshn League leaders face Al-Taawoun in the seventh round, days after their first stumble of the season – a two-goal defeat to Neom on Monday in the sixth round. The loss did more than cut into their aura of invincibility. It dragged up an uncomfortable memory.

The memory of the “curse” of back-to-back league defeats.

For Al-Hilal, that particular nightmare has been missing from their story for around five years. It first haunted their neighbours and long-time rivals Al-Nassr, but “The Boss” have felt it too – and they are determined not to relive it in Buraidah.

The last time Al-Hilal lost two league games in a row came in December 2021. They fell 2-0 to Al-Nassr, then slipped again in the very next round, edged 3-2 by Al-Fateh. Since that bruising spell, the capital club have responded to every league defeat with at least a point, never allowing one bad result to snowball into a crisis.

That resilience underpins their current position. Al-Hilal sit on top of the Saudi Roshn League table with 15 points, ahead of Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah on goal difference, the trio locked together but separated by fine margins.

Now comes the test. A long trip to Al-Taawoun, a fresh wound from Neom, and a five-year streak on the line.

Is this just a bump in the road for the leaders – or the day that old curse finally catches up with them again?