Saudi El Clasico: When do Al Hilal and Al Ittihad play each other in 2023/24

There is no limit to what Saudi Arabia are willing to buy in their quest for the complete control of sport - or rather, the distraction from their human rights controversies that sport brings.

Newcastle United were the first Premier League club to get lured in, Cristiano Ronaldo was the first star player and the entire game of golf willingly gave in to the soft power play. Saudi Arabia even effectively bought El Clasico, the biggest European fixture of each season between Barcelona and Real Madrid, when they acquired the rights for an expanded Spanish Super Cup from 2019 onwards.

However, Saudi Arabia has its own Clasico which has been running for decades between the two most successful clubs in the Kingdom; Al Hilal and Al Ittihad. Here's everything you need to know about the always anticipated meetings between these regional giants in the 2023/24 season.

Which players have Al Hilal and Al Ittihad signed in 2023?

Since the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) took over both clubs in June, the pair have sought to strengthen their dominance with A-list arrivals.

Al Hilal shattered the Saudi Arabian transfer record with the seismic arrival of Ruben Neves. The Portugal international is in the prime of his career at 26 years of age but opted for a side that finished third in last season's Pro League when he reportedly had the chance to feature in Spain's Clasico, as Barcelona had registered an interest in the former Wolves captain. Neves will be up against his former manager from the Black Country Nuno Espirito Santo, who coached Al Ittihad to last season's title.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, still only 28, will line up alongside Neves in Al Hilal's midfield ahead of former Chelsea and Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, who, admittedly, may have already enjoyed his best years.

Al Ittihad snagged Neves' 24-year-old compatriot Jota from Celtic but have concentrated their recruitment efforts on eye-catching free transfers. N'Golo Kante saw out his contract at Chelsea before donning the yellow and black stripes while the acquisition of the current Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema has to be one of the most surprising arrivals in modern transfer history.

However, if Al Hilal can persuade Kylian Mbappe to accept the gargantuan fortune they have thrown at his feet, it will blow every other Saudi transfer out of the water.

When do Al Hilal and Al Ittihad play each other in 2023/24?

These famous and familiar rivals first meet on Friday 1 September 2023. Al Ittihad will play the role of hosts in Jeddah before travelling to Riyadh for the reverse fixture six months later.

Only the first five weekends of the season have been assigned fixed kick-off times. However, the league has revealed that Al Hilal will welcome Al Ittihad to the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium at some time between Thursday 7 March and Saturday 9 March 2024.

Who won more Saudi Clasicos in 2022/23?

Al Ittihad banished the demons of the 2021/22 campaign, when they ceded a 16-point lead over Al Hilal, to time their push for the Pro League to perfection last term. Finishing five points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr (and 13 above Al Hilal) Espirito Santo's side only lost one top-flight home game all season - although that was against their fiercest rivals.

Al Hilal won both of their trips to Jeddah last season, beating Al Ittihad in the league courtesy of a single Odion Ighalo goal before Ahmed Hegazy put the ball in his own net in the semi-final of the King's Cup. Al Hilal went on to the win the competition.

Al Ittihad raced into a 2-0 lead when the sides reconvened in the Pro League last May. However, Al Hilal hauled themselves level, snatching a point via Michael Delgado's 94th-minute equaliser.

Saudi El Clasico complete H2H record

The first Saudi Clasico took place in 1964, six decades after the birth of its equivalent in Spain. Al Ittihad won that original meeting but have slipped behind Al Hilal in the subsequent years.

Since 2016, Al Ittihad have won just a single edition of this Gulf grudge match. This barren stretch includes the two-legged AFC Champions League quarter-final between the fierce rivals in 2019. After a goalless first leg in Jeddah, Al Ittihad took the lead away to Al Hilal in the first ten minutes of the decisive tie.

Andre Carrillo and Salem Al Dawsari dovetailed twice on either side of halftime to fire Al Hilal ahead before Sebastian Giovinco, the wonderfully nicknamed Atomic Ant, sealed a 3-1 win.

More than seven years will have elapsed since Al Ittihad's last victory away to Al Hilal by the time they travel to Riyadh next March. If Mbappe does join the record champions, Al Ittihad may have to wait even longer for a derby triumph on the road.

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