Al-Hilal - Inter Miami live online: score, stats & updates, Riyadh Season Cup friendly
Al-Hilal - Inter Miami: live updates
A reminder of the starting XIs:
If you've just joined us - welcome!
Here's how the two teams line up as they step out onto the pitch for their pre-match warmups!
AL-HILAL:
GK: Al-Wutaian
DEF: Al-Shahrani - Jahfali - Al-Dawsari - Lodi
MID: Sergei - Neves - Michael
ATT: Malcom - Mitrovic - Al-Hamdan
***
INTER MIAMI:
GK: Callender
DEF: Yedlin - Allen - Krytsov - Aviles - Alba
MID: Ruiz - Busquets - Gressel
ATT: Messi - Suárez
Recent form for both sides:
Here's a nice look at the recent form of both sides, thanks (again) to the lovely people in white coats at BeSoccerPro Towers.
Inter Miami's is a mish-mash of yellow and red, highlighting their late-season struggles that have filteredover into the preparations for the 2024 campaign. Al-Hilal, meanwhile is an all-green delight.
What is the Riyadh Season Cup?
Dear reader, that is a sensational question. The Riyadh Season Cup is a tournament that puts Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo and Said Arabia's best team, Al-Hilal.
It is commonly labelled as "a Saudi Arabian state-funded entertainment and sport festival", which I think fits the bill. Apart from the football we've got today, there are other events that form part of what is known as Riyadh Season, such as the Spanish Super Cup and the Supercoppa Italia.
Al-Hilal season stats
Here’s a fantastic overview of Miami’s opponents today.
Al-Hilal, as you can see from the BeSoccerPro stats, are running away with things in all aspects of the game, with their players all putting out fantastic numbers as they continue to tear through anyone who sets foot on a football pitch with them.
We’ve got Mitrovic on 25 goals, Michael with 98 successful dribbles, Al-Abdulhamid with 35 key passes and Al-Dawsari with over 200 duels won.
The Barcelona quartet make the XI once again...
So far, the performance of the side hasn't been what some fans had expected, with no goals scored and one conceded in two games that have been, if we're honest, a little drab.
However, there's no time like the present, and Al-Hilal will force Inter Miami to step up their Game... or potentially get crushed.
Finally! Inter Miami team revealed
Tata didn't forget his notebook - here's the team news!
Callender is in goal ahead of a back 5 of Alba, Allen, Kryvtsov, Aviles and Yedlin.
In midfield, Busquets patrols alongside Ruiz and Gressel. Up top we have Luis Suárez and a lad called Messi.
The Herons arrive at the stadium...
Inter Miami's squad have arrived at the stadium ahead of kick-off!
Who are Al-Hilal's star players?
During the summer, theSaudiclub spent over €300 million on various big names from Europe.
· Neymar - €90m
· Malcom - €60m
· Ruben Neves - €55m
· Mitrovic- €52m
· Milinkovic-Savic - €42m
· Koulibaly - €23m
· Bono - €21m
And they've just signed Renan Lodi, who is making his debut today, for €23 million.
MLS
Inter Miami announce the signing of Argentine defender Nicolás Freire
A new signing joined The Herons a few days ago as Nicolás Freire joined the club onloan from Pumas UNAM.
“I’m looking forward to joining the group and dedicating myself to working hard here. This is an ambitious club that dreams big and I’m excited to help us compete for titles,” said Freire.
Awaiting Inter Miami team news...
Tata Martino's starting XI shouldn't be long, and if the previous tweet from the club is anything to go by, could we see the Fantastic 4 line up from the start once again?
Where's Neymar?
While it’s something of a theme for Inter Miami, one ex-Barcelona star who won’t be on the pitch today is Neymar.
In August 2023, the Blue Waves paid around $100 million to sign Neymar Jr. from PSG, but the Brazilian winger is suffering from a cruciate ligament tear and will be out for the foreseeable future.
Here's the home side's starting XI!
Here's how manager Jorge Jesus has chosen to start the game today.
MLS
What is Royal Caribbean, Inter Miami’s new jersey sponsor?
Royal Caribbean were announced as the new logo on the front of the Inter Miami shirt, to be worn by Messi and co in the 2024 MLS season.
As you might have guessed by the name, they're a cruise company that specialise in luxury trips across the world, although they don't have any holidays scheduled for Saudi Arabia. Not just quite yet, anyway.
More snaps of the 2getherness kit:
Here's a closer look at the Inter Miami home shirt for the 2024 MLS season.
Inter Miami's pre-season results: a roundup
Inter Miami’s pre-season tests are coming thick and fast now, and their results have left fans wanting more ahead of the 2024 MLS season.
Their first game of the new year was a forgettable 0-0 draw against El Salvador, a game which was followed up by a slim 1-0 loss to FC Dallas which was settled by a Jesus Ferreira goal in the third minute.
The Leagues Cup 2023 champions held their own against their opponents, but the star-studded lineup were unable to break down their MLS opponents.
Today, however, will certainly be the toughest test so far.
Inter Miami’s pre-season schedule:
Here’s how things look in Inter Miami’s diary for the upcoming month of February ahead of their MLS 2024 opener…
· January 20 vs El Salvador (0-0DRAW)
· January 23 vs FC Dallas (1-0LOSS)
· January 29 vs Al-Hilal
· 1 February vs Al Nassr
· February 4 vs Hong Kong
· February 7 vs Vissel Kobe
· February 15 vs Newell’s Old Boys
***
· February 21 vs Real Salt Lake - MLS opener
Fans are already inside the stadium!
The levels of anticipation are high for the tie which is set to put two of the most exciting teams outside of Europe against each other.
INTER MIAMI
Who is Edina Alves Batista, the referee for Al-Hilal - Inter Miami?
Edina Alves Batista is the referee for the Game. The 43-year-old comes from Goioerê in Brazil and has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2016.
While her normal line of work sees her referee Games in the Brazilian women’s first division, she also has World Cup experience, taking charge of Games at both France 2019 and Australia & New Zealand 2023, blowing the whistle in Spain’s triumph over Sweden in the semi-finals.
Al-Hilal pre-Game press conference:
Tomorrow’s match is considered one of the most important matches for us, not only on the field but also off it.
This global phenomenon is the talk of the world and will be shown on television everywhere. It is an opportunity to show the development that this country has reached.
A big match awaits us tomorrow and we are excited about it.
We will play against a team with the best player in the world. I have faced Messi before, but every match is different and tomorrow’s match has its own preparations.
How to watch the game...
Want to watch the game live on TV or on your streaming device?
Well, you're in luck, here's all the info you need to get the game in front of you, as well as following online with AS USA.
A sneak peek inside the stadium...
With kick-off around 90 minutes away, here's how things look inside the 40,000-seater Kingdom Arena.
INTER MIAMI
Which high profile soccer stars play for Al Hilal, Inter Miami’s rival? Bono, Milinkovic-Savic...
The Saudi side have - wait for it - won their last 20 games with 19 clean sheets!
They look in simply unstoppable form and despite not having played for a couple of weeks and with their main goalkeeper and defender out, the quality and confidence they have in the middle and final third should probably be too much for Miami to deal with.
Despite the absences in today's game, the squad is still sensational and feels more like a video game team than anything else. We take a closer look at the players in blue in our Al-Hilal squad guide.
Miami release new home shirt
Inter Miami have released their new home shirt for the 2024 campaign.
With 'Freedom to Dream' sewn into the collar, 'Easy Pink' is used for the main colour, say the club.
"This adidas gear features AEROREADY technology as well as ventilated, mesh panels that work together to keep you dry and comfortable all game long. Its striking Inter Miami CF graphics will get you pumped to cheer on your favorite team as they take the field."
Who are we to argue with that?
A chance to make a statement...
Today, given the difficulty of the opponent, is a huge change for Inter Miami to make a statement and deliver a top performance against perhaps the best squad of players outside of Europe.
Al-Hilal’s squad reeks of class and talent, and a result, even a draw, against the Saudi side would certainly constitute progress for Martino’s men as they shape-up for the MLS 2024 season.
Team news: Inter Miami
The MLS side are dealing with the absence of Facundo Farías (cruciate ligament rupture) and Benjamín Cremaschi (surgery for a sports hernia), as well as Ian Fray, Franco Negri and Corentin Jean, who are all on the sidelines.
Team news: Al-Hilal
Bono and Koulibaly are on AFCON duty and Neymar is out with a cruciate injury.
Apart from that, it’s full steam ahead for Jorge Jesus’ men, who are in blistering form and looking to continue that against their MLS opponents today.
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the AS USA live text coverage of Al-Hilal against Inter Miami in the Riyadh Season Cup.
It’s Joe here to guide you through the action as it happens in Saudi Arabia.
Kick-off is around 90 minutes away.
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