Five Al-Hilal players ruled out for Al-Gharafa clash

Al-Hilal are preparing to play their first match in the AFC Champions League Elite against Al-Gharafa from Qatar, amid significant absences affecting their squad ahead of the anticipated clash on Tuesday evening at the Kingdom Arena in Al Riyadh.

Al-Hilal will be without five players due to injuries, led by Frenchman Théo Hernandez, alongside Ali Lajami, Hamad Al-Yami, and Salem Al-Dosari, which leaves the coaching staff with limited options.

The likelihood of Ollie Watkins missing the upcoming match has increased after Simone Inzaghi revealed that the forward has sustained an injury, and the player did not participate in the team's training session on Monday.

These absences force Inzaghi to rely on the most prepared players to fill the void left by the injured and maintain Al-Hilal's strength against a Qatari opponent seeking a positive result.

Al-Hilal are looking to exploit the factors of home and crowd support in the match, aiming for a victory that would grant them their first three points in their continental campaign and bolster their hopes of competing for the title.

In contrast, Al-Gharafa enter the match with the ambition of leaving Al Riyadh with a positive result, benefiting from the readiness of their players and their desire to make a strong start in the AFC Champions League Elite.

Al-Hilal fans are eagerly awaiting a strong performance from their team despite absences, especially since the AFC Champions League Elite represents an opportunity to affirm the club's ambitions and overcome any obstacles they may face as the continental tournament begins.