Martinelli signs a hat-trick and Al-Hilal cements top spot: 6-0
Gabriel Martinelli signs a hat-trick and Al-Hilal Saudi FC beats Al Taawon 6-0 in Matchday 7 of the Pro League; the leader, on 18 points, shows control and efficiency over a side stuck in the relegation zone (3 points).
Al Taawon
Al-Hilal Saudi FCThe early turning point
As early as the 9th minute Ollie Watkins opens the scoring with an assist from Rúben Neves and Al-Hilal sets the pace it keeps throughout the match. The 6-0 builds through clear actions: Martinelli scores at 18', strikes again at 43' from a Watkins assist and completes his hat-trick at 50' with a pass from Crysencio Summerville.
The by-period picture confirms it: 3-0 at half-time and three more goals in the second half (50', 53' and 75') sustain the same script; Watkins adds his second at 53' and Sultan Mandash finishes it at 75'.
Numbers that explain the rout
Al-Hilal totals 486 passes (435 completed) versus 401 (345) for Al Taawon and controls possession 55%–45%. That superiority turns into chances: 20 shots, 17 inside the box and 10 on target against 15 shots, 10 in the box and 4 on target for the home side.
A surprising stat: despite the 6-0 scoreline, Al Taawon wins more duels (41 vs 39). The explanation lies in the visitors' clarity: 17 key passes to 9, 16 minutes of sustained pressure compared to just 5 for the home team, and sharper finishing; Ollie Watkins is the statistical man of the match with a 9.69 rating —2 goals, 2 assists, 5 key passes and 3 dribbles— while Martinelli nets 3 goals with a 9.3 rating.
What it changes in the table and the takeaway
With this result Al-Hilal keeps top spot with 18 points and a goal difference of +18 in the League; Al Taawon remains 17th with 3 points and a -9 difference, anchored in the relegation zone. More than a classic was at stake: the fight at the top against the risk at the bottom, and Al-Hilal answers with decisiveness.
The match leaves two clear marks: clinical efficiency from the visitors and territorial superiority reflected in passes and chances created. Momentum shows Al Taawon dominating the final stretch (75-90'), but without any reward.
El Relator sees it like this: control plus finishing, a night for Gabriel Martinelli and a complete display from Watkins —that combo turns dominance into a rout and confirms why Al-Hilal sits first.
