The highly anticipated Riyadh derby is just moments away from commencing. With the electric atmosphere palpable in the air, fans of Al Hilal and Al Nassr are eagerly waiting for their respective teams to clash at Al Awwal Park today. This exhilarating matchup features some of the brightest stars in the Saudi Pro League, and supporters are particularly keen to find out if the renowned Neymar Jr. will step onto the field tonight to face off against Cristiano Ronaldo and his players.
After being sidelined for a year due to a serious injury, the Brazilian sensation finally made a much-awaited comeback for Al Hilal. The 32-year-old was part of the squad that traveled for the AFC Champions League group-stage match against Al Ain, where he briefly showcased his skills, coming off the bench to celebrate a thrilling 4-5 victory over the Qatari side.
However, despite the excitement surrounding his return, Neymar has not appeared in any matches since, missing out on the convincing 2-0 victory against Al Taawoun on October 26 and the recent 1-4 win over Al Tai in the Kings Cup of Champions. Unfortunately for fans hoping to see him in action today, Neymar will not be featured against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. It’s essential to note that this absence is not due to any new injury concerns but rather a different circumstance altogether.
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via Imago
The former FC Barcelona star suffered a meniscus tear and an ACL rupture in his left knee during a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Uruguay last year, resulting in successful surgery that ultimately sidelined him for the entire season. This injury forced Al Hilal to make the difficult decision to deregister their marquee player to accommodate Renan Lodi in one of the team’s 10 foreign player slots.
The decision was a pragmatic one, made with the expectation that Neymar would not regain fitness in time for the current season. Furthermore, he has not been registered for the 2024-25 season as Al Hilal already has eight fully fit foreign players over the age of 21, negating the inclusion of Neymar, who, at 32 years, falls into this category.
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Thus, the management opted to maximize the capabilities of the active players until Neymar is prepared to return. With his recovery successfully completed, both he and the club will have to wait until January 2025 to modify the registration list, which will enable him to compete in both the league and the King’s Cup from mid-season. Consequently, Al Hilal will head into tomorrow’s pivotal clash against Al Nassr without their star player, forcing the Blue Waves to navigate the challenge without him.
No Neymar, no problemo for Al Hilal
Jorge Jesus and his squad have consistently posed significant threats to Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates in their recent encounters, ensuring that this upcoming match will not be an exception. Currently leading the league standings with an impressive 24 points, the Blue Waves are rightly regarded as favorites heading into this clash, especially following their strong showing in the King Cup of Champions.
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Al Hilal’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Al Tai not only secured them a spot in the tournament but also places considerable pressure on Stefan Pioli to assemble his strongest lineup. On the other hand, a victory is critical for Al Nassr, who are positioned in third place with 18 points. This match provides an excellent opportunity for the Yellow and Blue Army to disrupt Al Hilal’s winning trajectory while simultaneously boosting their own chances of climbing the league table.
**Interview with Sports Analyst Emma Johnson on Neymar’s Absence in the Riyadh Derby**
**Interviewer:** Good evening, Emma! With the much-anticipated Riyadh derby between Al Hilal and Al Nassr on the horizon, there’s a lot of buzz about Neymar Jr. Will he be playing tonight?
**Emma Johnson:** Unfortunately, he won’t be playing tonight. While there was plenty of excitement about his potential return after his long recovery from injury, he has not been registered for this match.
**Interviewer:** That’s disappointing news for supporters. Can you elaborate on why he hasn’t been included in the squad, especially considering he recently made a brief appearance in an AFC Champions League match?
**Emma Johnson:** Certainly! While Neymar did make a cameo appearance against Al Ain, his overall fitness has remained a concern. Al Hilal has decided not to register him for the current season due to their roster constraints. They have eight fully fit foreign players on their team, and with Neymar also being over 21 years old, they couldn’t find a place for him.
**Interviewer:** What can you tell us about the injury that sidelined him for so long?
**Emma Johnson:** Neymar’s injury was quite severe. He suffered a meniscus tear and an ACL rupture during a World Cup qualifier last year against Uruguay. After successful surgery, the recovery process was long and challenging, ultimately keeping him out for the entire season. Al Hilal had to make some tough decisions regarding their foreign player slots, and unfortunately, Neymar was a casualty of that.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like it was a strategic choice. Given that Cristiano Ronaldo will be on the pitch for Al Nassr, how crucial do you think Neymar’s presence could have been for Al Hilal in this matchup?
**Emma Johnson:** Neymar’s presence would undoubtedly have added a different dimension to Al Hilal’s attack, especially against a team led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Both players are world-class talents who could influence the game significantly. That said, Al Hilal still has a strong team, and they’ll need to leverage their other stars to compete against Ronaldo’s side without Neymar.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Emma. It’s a shame we won’t see Neymar in action tonight, but it’ll still be an exciting derby nonetheless!
**Emma Johnson:** Absolutely! The rivalry between Al Hilal and Al Nassr always promises intense action, and it’ll be interesting to see how the teams perform.
