Al-Hilal Faces Turbulence with Bounou Injury Before Al-Taawoun Match

Al-Hilal’s week has gone from bad to worse. First, a shock defeat by Neom. Now, doubt over their star goalkeeper.

Just three days before Al-Hilal head to Buraidah to face Al-Taawoun in the seventh round of the Saudi Roshn League, the club confirmed that Yassine Bounou has been sidelined from group training with a hamstring injury.

The league leaders travel on Saturday to Al-Taawoun’s home ground with questions hanging over the Moroccan’s fitness and the team’s response to their first real stumble of the season.

Al-Hilal announced on their official X account that Bounou visited the medical clinic at the Al-Majidiyah sports centre after suffering the muscle problem. The issue traces back to before the Neom clash on Monday at Kingdom Arena, where he was ruled out and Mohammed Al-Owais stepped in.

Al-Owais could not prevent a flat 2–0 defeat in the sixth round, a result that snapped Al-Hilal’s early momentum and exposed rare cracks in a side used to dictating the pace.

Physiotherapy specialist Thamer Al-Shahrani has played down the severity of the injury, describing it as minor and not a major concern. The medical verdict sounds reassuring, but the timing is awkward. With only 72 hours until kick-off in Buraidah, Bounou’s availability remains in doubt and Jorge Jesus must prepare for the possibility of another match without his first-choice keeper.

Despite the turbulence, Al-Hilal still sit on top of the Saudi Roshn League table with 15 points from five wins and one defeat, ahead of Al-Qadsiah on goal difference. The standings say they are in control. The last few days tell a different story.

How they handle this mini-crisis in Buraidah will reveal which version of Al-Hilal defines their season.