Al Hilal sit top of the Saudi Pro League with 27 points from ten matches, but the manner of their 3-2 victory at Al Qadsiah on Friday tells a more complicated story than the standings suggest. The win, their first at that ground since December 2020, was hard-earned and came with a cost. Gabriel Martinelli and Nahitan Nandez both picked up injuries during the match, adding to the physical strain already building across the squad.

Midfielder Ruben Neves spoke candidly after the final whistle, admitting that players are exhausted. He revealed the squad spent 25 hours travelling by bus to recent fixtures after Houthi strikes forced airport closures across Saudi Arabia, a logistical burden piling on top of an already congested schedule. That context matters when assessing a team that has now won nine of ten league games yet continues to look stretched.

Off the pitch, speculation around coach Simone Inzaghi is growing. Reports linking him to Juventus have surfaced, with Italian journalist Simone Eterno suggesting the club has held discussions about his availability. Inzaghi has not publicly distanced himself from the links, which adds an unsettling undercurrent to an otherwise strong start to the season.

Al Hilal now turn their attention to the AFC Champions League Elite, where they face Al-Shamal on October 27. With fatigue real and injuries mounting, how Inzaghi manages his squad in the coming weeks could define the shape of their entire campaign.