Bounou Injury Complicates Al-Hilal's Trip to Al-Taawoun
Al-Hilal’s week has gone from bad to worse. A shock defeat to Neom was the first jolt. Now they may have to face Al-Taawoun without Yassine Bounou.
The Moroccan goalkeeper missed Wednesday’s group training session after suffering a hamstring injury, the club confirmed just 72 hours before Saturday’s Saudi Roshn League clash in Buraidah.
Al-Hilal announced through a post on their official X account that Bounou had reported to the medical clinic at the Al-Majidiyah sports centre, where tests revealed the hamstring problem.
The issue traces back to the build-up to the Neom match on Monday at Kingdom Arena in the sixth round of the Roshn League. Bounou felt discomfort before kick-off and was ruled out, leaving Mohammed Al-Owais to step in. Al-Owais could not prevent a 2–0 defeat that stunned the league leaders and snapped their strong start.
Physiotherapy specialist Thamer Al-Shahrani has downplayed the severity of the injury, describing it as minor and not a serious concern. The calendar, though, is less forgiving. With the trip to Al-Taawoun looming, Bounou’s availability remains in doubt and forces Al-Hilal’s technical staff into an unwelcome wait.
The timing is delicate. Al-Hilal sit top of the Saudi League table with 15 points from five wins and one defeat, ahead of Al-Qadsiah only on goal difference. Any slip now, especially with a potentially weakened back line, could open the door in a title race that is already tightening.
