Al Hilal are in a strong position domestically and in continental competition, but a growing injury list is threatening to test the squad's depth at a critical stage of the season. Sitting top of the Saudi Pro League with 30 points from 11 games, two clear of Al Qadsiah, Simone Inzaghi's side backed up their league form with a 2-0 win over Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the AFC Champions League Elite on November 3, with Ollie Watkins scoring both goals to give the club nine points from four group-stage matches.

The concern now centres on fitness. French midfielder Saimon Bouabré was forced off in the first half of that Dubai win with a muscular injury sustained without contact. A physical therapist cited in local reports suggested the damage could range from a minor strain keeping him out for five days to a Grade 2 muscle tear requiring up to six weeks on the sidelines. He joins a list that already includes Hamad Al-Yami, Gabriel Martinelli, and Ruben Neves. Captain Salem Al-Dawsari is also absent after picking up a joint injury, and his repeated fitness problems have drawn public criticism from Saudi media figures who have questioned his conditioning and commitment to recovery protocols.

With the Saudi Pro League's Round 13 postponed following the rescheduling of the 2027 Asian Cup, Al Hilal's next league fixture is against Al Diriyah on November 20 at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. The break offers some recovery time, but managing a thin squad across multiple competitions remains the club's most pressing challenge.