Benzema nets one of three penalties, but Neves wants more from 'half-perfect' Al Hilal

With three points and four goals, on the surface it represented a strong introduction to the 2026-27 Roshn Saudi League for Al Hilal.

Ruben Neves got on the scoresheet, twice. He collected the Man of the Match award.

But the perfect start? Well, not quite, according to the man himself.

Last season’s runners-up kicked off their campaign to go one better with a 4-2 victory against newly promoted Al Faisaly on Friday night, with Neves notching a double from the penalty spot.

Karim Benzema had already converted the game’s first spot-kick to open the scoring at Kingdom Arena. Neves then got another from 12 yards and Malcom tapped home, as Simone Inzaghi’s side raced into a commanding 3-0 half-time lead.

So far, so good.

But Al Faisaly, back in the big league for the first time since 2021, had other ideas.

Two goals in five minutes around the hour mark suddenly pulled the visitors back within a goal of their unusually hospitable hosts. 

Suddenly, Al Hilal had been handed an uncomfortable reminder of just how quickly things can change in the Saudi Arabian top flight.

Yet, ultimately, they remained resolute. Late on, Neves stroked home another to seal the victory, although he was in no mood to ignore that second-half drop-off.

“First 45 minutes, we just controlled all the game,” the Portugal international said afterwards. “Second half, we dropped a little bit the quality - we dropped a little bit the focus - and, in this league, it's not allowed anymore to go down and to drop in these statistics.

“We need to improve. We cannot concede two goals playing at home, winning 3-0, controlling all the game.”

It is perhaps understandable that Al Hilal’s standards remain so high.

Inzaghi’s men went through the entire 2025-26 RSL season unbeaten, yet finished runners-up after an extraordinary title race with arch-rivals Al Nassr went all the way to the final day.

Now, their attempt to right than perceived wrong has begun. And, while Neves wasn’t completely content, he acknowledged it was the 2023-24 champions’ first night of what’s sure to be an intriguing and intense RSL campaign.

“Physically, we're still not in our best,” Neves said. “We are coming from a lot of work in pre-season; we are finding now our best form. It's normal in the first games of the season.

“It was important for us to get the three points. It was important to show that we can play like we played in the first half, because it was very good.

“But you cannot drop your focus, you cannot drop your concentration.”

OK, so given all that, maybe better than first thought?

“In terms of points, yes, it's the perfect way to start: three points, four goals,” Neves said.

“In terms of performance, it's the perfect way to start like we did in the first half. Second half, we need to improve.”