Al Hilal clinched the Saudi Super Cup on Thursday with a 4-1 win over rivals Al Ittihad in Abu Dhabi, extending their sequence of matches won to an incredible 34 games.
Brazilian forward Malcom scored twice with Salem Al Dawsari and namesake Nasser Al Dawsari also on target as Hilal clinched the first of what could be four trophies this season.
The Riyadh giants are the runaway leaders in the Saudi Pro League and are on track for a record-extending fifth Asian Champions League title with a semi-final double-header – the first leg is next Tuesday – against UAE club Al Ain to come. They meet Ittihad again for a place in the Saudi King Cup at the end of the month.
“It was a difficult game and I am very happy to score two goals,” Malcom told Saudi television following Thursday's Saudi Super Cup success. “We are also happy to collect our first title of the season but we are chasing more trophies.”
Here are the 10 longest winning streaks in football history.
1. Al Hilal 2023/24 (34 matches)
One of four Saudi clubs boosted by the financial backing of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Hilal have certainly made the most of their improved squad. The Riyadh side are running away with the Saudi Pro League, winning 25 and drawing two of their games so far, while also making smooth progress in the Asian Champions League where they will battle Al Ain over two legs for a place in the final.
Former Fulham striker Aleksandr Mitrovic – one of nine signings last summer – has been banging in the goals, and the likes of Brazilian winger Malcom, Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves and Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have all adapted quickly to the team. Reigning Asian Player of the Year Salem Al Dawsari also continues to be a key player.
And to think Hilal have achieved this record mainly without star man Neymar, who has been out injured since November.
2. The New Saints FC 2016/17 (27 matches)
The previous owner of the record was not a traditional giant by any means but the dominant team of the Cymru Premier League. Welsh side The New Saints put together their run of 27 straight wins during a 2016/17 season when they won the domestic treble of league, Welsh Cup, and Welsh League Cup.
The New Saints have again wrapped up the league title this season - a record-extending 16th - and another League Cup, while they are in the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup. Something suggests they might go on and do the treble again.
3. Ajax 1971/72 (26 matches)
The holder of the record for 44 years, Ajax's historic run set up the Dutch giants to win the Dutch league, Dutch Cup and European Cup treble.
Led by talismanic forward Johann Cruyff, who scored 33 goals in all competitions that season, and including the likes of midfielder Johan Neeskens, winger Piet Keizer and forward Dick van Dijk, Ajax blew away all rivals both domestically and on the continent, winning the Eredivisie by nine points and beating Inter Milan in the European Cup final.
4. Ajax 1994-95 (25 matches)
Regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time, an Ajax side comprising the likes of Edwin van der Sar, Frank de Boer, Edgar Davids, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf, Jari Litmanen and Patrick Kluivert came close to breaking their predecessors' record in 1994/95.
The Amsterdam giants secured the Eredivisie title and won their fourth, and most recent, European Cup with a 1-0 final victory over AC Milan. Litmanen top-scored for Louis van Gaal's side with 27 goals in all competitions.
5. Coritiba 2011 (24 matches)
The holder of the South American record, Coritiba's 24-match winning run in 2011 saw the Brazilian side win the Campeonato Paranaense which included a perfect 11 victories in the second stage to win the title. The streak also saw Coritiba clinch the Copa do Brasil.
6. Bayern Munich 2019/20 (23 matches)
One of the most dominant seasons of recent times, Bayern were unstoppable in 2019/20, especially from February onwards. They won their last 13 Bundesliga games to win the title by 13 points and won all 11 games in the Champions League on their way to the treble.
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski was the star of the season, scoring 55 goals in all competitions – 34 in the Bundesliga and 15 in the Champions League.
7. Real Madrid 2014/15 (22 matches)
Real Madrid achieved the seventh-longest win streak in football history yet only had the Fifa Club World Cup trophy to show for their efforts. Carlo Ancelotti's side hit their stride between September and mid-December of the 2014/15 season with 12 successive La Liga wins, six straight in the Champions League and two to win the Club World Cup.
But Madrid would finish runners-up to Barcelona in La Liga, lose to Juventus in the Champions League semi-finals and be eliminated from the Copa del Rey last 16 by city rivals Atletico Madrid.
8. Manchester City 2020/21 (21 matches)
One of many exemplary seasons during the Pep Guardiola era, City's 21-match winning run took place between mid-December and the start of March, taking in 15 Premier League wins and a string of victories in the League Cup, Champions League and FA Cup.
City would win the Premier League - the first in their current run of three straight titles - and the League Cup, but were defeated by Chelsea in both the FA Cup semi-finals and Champions League final.
9= Manchester City 2017/18 (18 matches)
Guardiola's first Premier League title as City manager came in 2017/18, which was built on an 18-match winning run early in the season on the way to a 100-point league campaign. Guardiola's first City trophy was also secured this season with the League Cup.
9= Liverpool 2019/20 (18 matches)
Liverpool ended their 30-year wait for a league title in 2019/20 following a remarkable start to the season, with an 18-match winning run from October 27 to February 24. A draw away to Manchester United on October 20 was the only league match the Reds didn't win in the first 27 games.
9= Barcelona 2005/06 (18 matches)
A great Barcelona team including a young Lionel Messi, Frank Rijkard's side won 14 straight La Liga matches between the end of October and end of December to set themselves up to win the title. Barca also starred in the Champions League, winning the trophy by beating Arsenal in the final.
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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More on Palestine-Israeli relations
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
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Day 5, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Given the problems Sri Lanka have had in recent times, it was apt the winning catch was taken by Dinesh Chandimal. He is one of seven different captains Sri Lanka have had in just the past two years. He leads in understated fashion, but by example. His century in the first innings of this series set the shock win in motion.
Stat of the day This was the ninth Test Pakistan have lost in their past 11 matches, a run that started when they lost the final match of their three-Test series against West Indies in Sharjah last year. They have not drawn a match in almost two years and 19 matches, since they were held by England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2015.
The verdict Mickey Arthur basically acknowledged he had erred by basing Pakistan’s gameplan around three seam bowlers and asking for pitches with plenty of grass in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Why would Pakistan want to change the method that has treated them so well on these grounds in the past 10 years? It is unlikely Misbah-ul-Haq would have made the same mistake.
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Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
SCHEDULE FOR SHOW COURTS
Centre Court - from 4pm (UAE time)
Angelique Kerber (1) v Irina Falconi
Martin Klizan v Novak Djokovic (2)
Alexandr Dolgopolov v Roger Federer (3)
Court One - from 4pm
Milos Raonic (6) v Jan-Lennard Struff
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Evgeniya Rodina
Dominic Thiem (8) v Vasek Pospisil
Court Two - from 2.30pm
Juan Martin Del Potro (29) v Thanasi Kokkinakis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Jelena Jankovic
Jeremy Chardy v Tomas Berdych (11)
Ons Jabeur v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
BeIN Sports currently has the rights to show
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