AL HILAL’s incredible 47-match unbeaten streak has finally come to an end – despite their expensive Prem reinforcements.
The Saudi Pro League outfit had gone on a monster run in which they went more than a year without tasting defeat in domestic competition.
But the 19-time league champions finally came crashing down to Earth as they lost 2-0 to newly promoted Neom.
They failed to score against the high-flying underdogs, despite fielding a side full of former Premier League stars worth almost £200million.
Their front three alone featured three signings from the English top tier this summer.
Gabriel Martinelli made the switch at the end of the window in a deal worth around £60million, joining Aston Villa icon Ollie Watkins (£50m) and ex-West Ham star Crysencio Summerville (£55m) after their summer moves.
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But that was far from the end of the list of Prem proven talent gracing the pitch at the Kingdom Arena.
Wolves hero Ruben Neves and Chelsea flop Kalidou Koulibaly also featured for Al Hilal, with the latter turning in an own goal for Neom’s opener.
Simone Inzaghi elected to praise his squad despite the result, saying: “We are still at the top of the standings, and I do not blame the players.”
He added: “Everyone saw that in the first half we were not at the required level, we conceded two goals, and we were unlucky, and the players gave what they had during the course of the match, and such losses show us some important points that must be worked on.”
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Saturday 12 September
Bournemouth
15:00
EPL
Brentford
Villa
15:00
EPL
Forest
Chelsea
15:00
EPL
Hull
Palace
15:00
EPL
Ipswich
Liverpool
15:00
EPL
Fulham
Spurs
17:30
EPL
Everton
Sunderland
20:00
EPL
Arsenal
Sunday 6 September
Arsenal
2 – 1
EPL
Chelsea
Everton
2 – 2
EPL
Man Utd
Saturday 5 September
Hull
0 – 0
EPL
Villa
Forest
0 – 0
EPL
Spurs
Man City
1 – 0
EPL
Coventry
Fulham
2 – 3
EPL
Palace
English Premier League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
5
3
0
0
2
3
9
5
3
0
0
3
3
7
3
2
1
0
4
3
6
1
2
0
1
5
3
5
3
1
2
0
6
3
5
2
1
2
0
7
3
5
2
1
2
0
8
3
5
2
1
2
0
It wasn’t just Al Hilal bringing former Premier League credentials in the match.
Neom started ex-Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette in attack, and former Chelsea defender Malang Sarr in defence, though West Ham alumnus Said Benrahma was unavailable through injury.
The result leaves Neom just three points off league leaders Al Hilal after six games of the season.
Inzaghi’s side are looking to move past their heartbreak last season, going completely unbeaten in the league only to miss out on the title to Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr by two points.