Bounou Injury Deepens Al-Hilal's Turmoil Before Al-Taawoun Clash

Al-Hilal’s week has gone from bad to worse. The shock of defeat to Neom has barely settled, and now Yassine Bounou is on the treatment table.

The Saudi Roshn League leaders head to Buraidah to face Al-Taawoun on Saturday in the seventh round of the season, but they will do so with serious doubts over their first-choice goalkeeper. Just 72 hours before kick-off, the club confirmed that the Moroccan star missed Wednesday’s collective training session through injury.

Al-Hilal announced via a post on their official X account that Bounou reported to the medical clinic at the Al-Majidiyah sports centre after suffering a hamstring problem. The issue dates back to Monday, when he felt discomfort before the Neom clash at Kingdom Arena in the sixth round of the Roshn League.

He did not feature. Mohammed Al-Owais stepped in, yet could not prevent a 2-0 defeat that stunned the league leaders and exposed rare fragility in a side usually so assured.

Physiotherapy specialist Thamer Al-Shahrani described Bounou’s injury as minor and insisted there is no major cause for alarm. The diagnosis calms the long-term fears, but it does little to clear up the immediate question: will the Morocco international be fit in time for Al-Taawoun?

For now, his status remains uncertain, and that doubt hangs over Al-Hilal’s preparations.

Despite the turbulence, Al-Zaeem still sit on top of the Saudi League table with 15 points from five wins and a single defeat, ahead of Al-Qadsiah on goal difference. The margin is slim, the schedule unforgiving, and with their star goalkeeper racing the clock, Al-Hilal’s response in Buraidah will say plenty about their title credentials.