Al Hilal seized first place in the Saudi Pro League standings after defeating Al Qadsiah 3–2 on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium in Khobar, 365Scores reported. The dramatic fixture in the 11th round of the domestic championship featured five goals, tactical adjustments, and a late surge that reshaped the upper tier of the table.

Gabriel Martinelli Opens the Scoring and Extends Historic Start

Gabriel Martinelli gave Al Hilal the lead in the 20th minute, converting his chance to notch his sixth goal in his last four appearances for the club. The 25-year-old Brazilian forward, who joined Al Hilal from Arsenal in the summer on a contract running until the summer of 2030, has enjoyed a prolific opening stretch in Riyadh. According to figures cited by Transfermarkt via Yallakora, Martinelli has scored six goals in just six matches spanning 384 minutes of play. Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi deployed his forward line with Martinelli alongside Crysencio Summerville and Ollie Watkins, while Yasin Bounou guarded the net behind a backline featuring Theo Hernández, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hassan Al Tambakti, and Mohammed Al Mahzari.

Julian Quinones and Mateo Retegui Strike for Al Qadsiah

Al Qadsiah responded to the early deficit when Julian Quinones leveled the score with a well-placed header in the 30th minute, returning the match to parity. In the dying moments, striker Mateo Retegui narrowed the deficit for the hosts in the 87th minute by steering a close-range shot past Bounou following sustained pressure inside the penalty area. The late surge injected tension into the closing stages, though Al Hilal held firm to secure the victory.

Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic Seal the Points

Al Hilal restored their advantage in the second half through commanding strikes from distance and clever build-up play. Ruben Neves broke the deadlock in the 75th minute by latching onto space near the edge of the area and launching an unstoppable long-range drive into the net. Minutes later, in the 83rd minute, Sultan Al Mandesh orchestrated a slick passing sequence that teed up Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian midfielder finished with precision to stretch the margin to three goals, a cushion that proved vital when Retegui struck moments later. Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Neves emphasized the difficulty of the fixture. I congratulate them, they are a team that is difficult to play against.”

League Standings Shift After Round 11 Clash

The result propelled Al Hilal to 27 points, placing the capital club alone at the summit of the Saudi Pro League table. The league schedule continues ahead of the upcoming break for the AFC Asian Cup, with the top positions remaining tightly contested.