Al-Najma won automatic promotion from the First Division but are eight points from safety, having appointed Serbian-British coach Nestor El Maestro earlier this month in an attempt to escape relegation.
Despite Al-Najma taking the lead twice, red cards for Jawad El Yamiq and Lazaro, who scored the opener, allowed Al-Hilal to win the match as Salem Al-Dawsari, Theo Hernandez and Ruben Neves got on the scoresheet. Al-Najma went ahead when Yassine Bounou's failed clearance fell kindly to Lazaro, and the forward found the unguarded net from distance, but that lead did not last long as Al-Dawsari smashed the ball past Victor Braga shortly after.