According to Al Hilal’s probable line-up against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Yassine Bounou and Kalidou Koulibaly are set to start on Tuesday 3 November, after the defeat to Al Shamal and the controversy over the cancelled penalty against Al Fateh.
On Tuesday 3 November at 18:15 (Paris time), Al Hilal, coached by Simone Inzaghi, face Shabab Al Ahli Dubai on matchday 4 of the AFC Champions League Elite, according to Le Matin. In goal, Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou, and in central defence, Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly, are named as starters in the probable line-up reported by News-ajel and Le Matin.
The Saudi club are looking to bounce back after a 1-3 defeat in Qatar to Al Shamal on the previous matchday, reports Africa Soccer. Tuesday’s game therefore comes in that context.
Bounou and Koulibaly in the probable XI
According to the probable line-up revealed by News-ajel and Le Matin, Bounou occupies the goalkeeping spot and Koulibaly forms the central defence alongside Mahzari, Hassan Tambakti and Theo Hernandez. That back line would therefore start as they look to rebound from the defeat in Qatar.
The Moroccan keeper made an important save on Saturday 1 November in the 2-0 win over Al Fateh: he kept out a header from Wilfried Kanga in the 17th minute, according to Africa Soccer.
The cancelled penalty: Koulibaly’s hand cleared
The Senegalese defender was also at the heart of a controversy in that same match. A penalty awarded to Al Fateh in the 45th minute was overturned after VAR intervention, as the ball struck the arm of Murad Batna and not Koulibaly’s, report Africa Soccer and Kickoff Ghana.
Refereeing analyst Mohamed Kamal Risha backed the decision: “On 45 minutes, the referee made the correct decision to withdraw the penalty awarded to Al Fateh after reviewing the incident on the VAR screen. There was handball, but after the review it became clear to the referee that the ball had struck the right arm of Murad Batna, the Al Fateh player, and not the hand of Kalidou Koulibaly, Al Hilal’s defender.” For him, the referee’s decision to change his call was correct.
A rebound to confirm against Shabab Al Ahli
After the defeat to Al Shamal, Al Hilal must negotiate matchday 4 of the AFC Champions League Elite against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, on Tuesday 3 November at 18:15 (Paris time), according to Le Matin.
In the league, Simone Inzaghi’s side returned to the top of the Roshn Saudi League on Saturday 1 November thanks to their 2-0 win over Al Fateh, with goals from Ollie Watkins and Ruben Neves, according to Africa Soccer.