Al Hilal midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is aiming to extend the best scoring start of his career with the club when his side face Al Shabab on Friday in round five of the Roshn Saudi League.
The Serbia international has scored in each of Al Hilal’s first three matches this season, giving him an opportunity to find the net in four consecutive games for the first time since joining the Saudi club. Continuing that sequence would underline the particularly strong attacking form he has shown at the beginning of the campaign.
Milinkovic-Savic has already established a productive record against Al Shabab. The club are the opponent he has scored against most often since moving to Saudi football, with the midfielder having found the net four times in previous meetings.
That record gives him an added psychological advantage ahead of the derby, while his current role in Al Hilal’s attacking system makes him one of the team’s main threats. Although he operates in midfield, the Serbian regularly moves into the penalty area and remains a significant presence when Al Hilal deliver crosses or take set-pieces.
His height, physical strength and ability to attack balls in the air have made him particularly useful in those situations. Those qualities also allow him to contribute beyond his usual midfield responsibilities, giving Al Hilal another route to goal during attacks.
His latest performance against Al Ahli was among his finest displays for the club. Milinkovic-Savic played an important part in Al Hilal’s 3-0 victory, scoring an early opener after only nine minutes to put his team in front.
That goal continued a run which has made this the most impressive opening to a season he has enjoyed in front of goal since wearing the Al Hilal shirt. He now needs one more goal to reach four successive matches with a score, a landmark that would further highlight his influence in the side’s attack.
The fixture against Al Shabab therefore presents Milinkovic-Savic with more than just another chance to score. It offers him the opportunity to set a new personal benchmark at Al Hilal, against the opponent he has punished most frequently since arriving in Saudi Arabia.
With Al Hilal relying increasingly on his ability to combine midfield work with movement into the box, the Serbian will be central to their hopes of maintaining their attacking momentum in Friday’s meeting.
