Al-Hilal vs Al-Ettifaq: Leaders win 2-0 as Kanno and Al-Dawsari deliver at Kingdom Arena
Al-Hilal tightened their hold on first place with a composed 2-0 victory over Al-Ettifaq on Friday, Feb 13, 2026 (ET), at the Kingdom Arena. First-half goals from Mohamed Kanno and Salem Al-Dawsari settled a controlled performance from the league leaders, who extended their strong run amid a tightening title race.
Early breakthrough sets the tone
The hosts imposed themselves from the outset and were rewarded with an early lead. Kanno rose decisively to meet a delivery and guided a firm header into the net, reflecting the home side’s aggressive start and sharp execution on set pieces. The advantage emboldened Al-Hilal’s midfield to dictate play, pinning Al-Ettifaq deep and forcing the visitors to defend the width of the box for extended spells.
That front-foot approach arrived as little surprise given the leaders’ recent urgency. After a brief lull in January, Al-Hilal had rediscovered their cutting edge in a 6-0 win over Al-Okhdood, and the intensity carried straight into this encounter with quick combination play and relentless pressure in wide areas.
Al-Dawsari doubles before the interval
Salem Al-Dawsari provided the cushion before half-time, pouncing after a turnover from a dead-ball situation and finishing with cool precision. The winger had been lively throughout the half, repeatedly finding pockets between the lines and stretching Al-Ettifaq’s back line with direct runs.
There might have been more before the break. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic headed off target from a Ruben Neves corner in the 19th minute, one of several moments when the leaders threatened to overwhelm the visitors with well-drilled set-play movements and second-ball pressure.
Al-Ettifaq’s response falls short
To their credit, Al-Ettifaq fashioned moments that hinted at a route back. Alvaro Medran found shooting space on the edge of the area after neat link-up play but saw his effort smothered by alert defending. Shortly after, Mukhtar Ali tried his luck from distance, sending a right-footed strike marginally wide of the left post.
Those half-chances reflected the visitors’ willingness to break lines when the opportunity arose, a continuation of the upturn that had delivered back-to-back wins heading into the night. But the final pass too often deserted them, and the tempo shifts needed to disrupt Al-Hilal’s structure never fully materialized.
Game management after the break
With a two-goal platform, Al-Hilal controlled the second half with measured possession and disciplined spacing. The midfield screen limited transitions, while the wide players tracked diligently to blunt counters. When the visitors pushed numbers forward late on, the leaders stayed compact, clearing danger decisively and denying clean looks at goal.
The second period underscored a hallmark of Al-Hilal’s season: once in front, they are difficult to reel in. The Kingdom Arena has been a fortress, with the side winning all but one of their last dozen home assignments prior to this match—form that continues to underpin their title push.
Title picture and takeaways
The result keeps Al-Hilal at the summit, preserving their narrow advantage in a race that has tightened in recent weeks. They had seen their lead trimmed to a single point prior to kick-off, and with the pressure ratcheting up across the top of the table, the ability to secure routine home wins looms large.
Historically, this fixture has tilted blue. Al-Hilal entered the night with six wins in seven meetings across competitions against Al-Ettifaq, a record bolstered here by clinical finishing and assured game management. For the visitors, the broader trajectory remains promising under current stewardship after successive victories, but this trip offered a reminder of the gap to the league’s benchmark in both execution and depth.
Selection notes and form lines
New signing Karim Benzema led the line again after his headline-grabbing hat-trick in the previous league outing, adding gravity to a front unit already capable of striking from multiple angles. Behind him, the balance offered by Neves and Milinkovic-Savic provided control and threat at set pieces, a combination that repeatedly tilted the field in Al-Hilal’s favor.
Al-Ettifaq’s recent momentum—highlighted by sturdy defensive work and improved road form—could not blunt Al-Hilal’s early surge on this occasion. Still, their capacity to carve out spells of pressure on the champions-in-waiting’s turf will offer positives to build on as the season enters its final third.
