Super Cup talking points - and how it impacts 2024-25 RSL

Most definitely, the Saudi Super Cup lived up to its billing, with two keenly contested semi-finals playing out in Abha before Al Hilal mounted a strong second-half comeback to defeat Al Nassr 4-1 in the showpiece.

However, the current Roshn Saudi League champions won't have too long to bask in capturing the first piece of silverware this season: the 2024-25 RSL kicks off on Thursday, with all 18 teams dreaming of what might be.

Here, we look at the four involved in the Super Cup, and some of the talking points the competition threw up heading into what promises to be a thrilling RSL campaign.

Al Hilal confirm they won’t be easily displaced

A goal down at half-time and their remarkable unbeaten domestic run – 40 matches – under serious threat, Al Hilal did what champions do: they bit down on their gumshield, fought back, and completely turned around the contest.

In doing so, they landed the first silverware of the season. That it came against their main rivals would have only added to the celebrations. It was yet more evidence that the reigning RSL champions will not relinquish their crown easily; remember, Al Nassr represented their closest challengers last term.

In Aleksandar Mitrovic, Malcom, Salem Al Dawsari, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Al Hilal have creators and goalscorers galore, while Ruben Neves controls midfield from deep and the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Ali Al Bulayhi - the Saudi centre-back was suspended for the final - and Yassine Bono help contribute to a superb rearguard that conceded a league-best 23 goals last term.

Supplanting them if not impossible, of course, but on this evidence, Al Hilal look determined to hang onto the RSL trophy.

Al Nassr will look to review, regroup and rebound - fast

The pain of defeat in the campaign curtain-raiser was obvious on the faces of the Al Nassr players. They had gone into half-time in the ascendancy, 1-0 up courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo, and no doubt believing a first victory against Al Hilal in nine official matches would be theirs.

However, defensive lapses and a crushing mistake by new goalkeeper Bento allowed their Riyadh rivals to capitalise. Al Nassr, who had looked good in the semi-final victory against Al Taawoun, will for sure be hurt by the loss, but they should also recognise how well they performed in the first half – and that they have little time to dwell on the defeat.

Last year’s runners-up open their 2024-25 RSL account on Thursday, at home to Al Raed, and will view it as the perfect opportunity to respond. The club, captain Ronaldo, and their supporters, must recognise what’s on offer still this season.

Mitrovic lays down credentials for golden boot shootout

Mitrovic’s debut season in Saudi Arabia could barely have gone much better. The Serbian international, a high-profile signing last summer from the English Premier League, found the net 28 times in 28 appearances to finish second in the scoring charts to Ronaldo.

Not only that, Mitrovic tended to rise to the occasion in the major moments: the hat-trick against then-champions Al Ittihad, and the three goals in two matches against each capital counterpart, Al Nassr and Al Shabab. And there he was again in the Super Cup semi-final, clawing Al Hilal back into the match at the death, then cooly converting in the ensuing penalty shootout.

In the final, Mitrovic netted the second and third goals that effectively took the encounter, and the cup, from Al Nassr and to Al Hilal. Personally, Mitrovic will likely be focused this season on taking Ronaldo’s golden boot come the conclusion of the 2024-25 RSL.

There are plenty of other candidates, too, but this past week illustrated Mitrovic’s might.

A resurgent Firmino could fire Al Ahli’s title tilt

OK, so Al Ahli did not get past Al Hilal in their semi-final, but they at least suggested there is more to come in 2024-25. In fact, it took Mitrovic’s last-minute goal to prevent the Jeddah club from progressing to the final instead, with captain Roberto Firmino’s 67th-minute strike set to settle the clash.

After a debut season in the RSL that surely would not have lived up to the former Liverpool star’s expectations – Firmino scored nine times in 32 games – clearly, he has a point to prove. Add in the supply line of 2023-24 RSL lead assister Riyad Mahrez, and the continued progression of Feras Al Buraikan (17 goals last time out), and things are certainly looking up for Al Ahli.

Last term’s third-placed finish upon their return to the top flight was an excellent showing, but with manager Matthias Jaissle and a host of international recruits now with a full campaign under their belts, the 2015-16 champions will be determined to kick on again.

Arruabarrena gets first taste of task at Al Taawoun

Al Taawoun’s fourth place last season was one of the success stories of the 2023-24 RSL campaign. The Buraidah club were involved in a battle for the competition's final Asian spot alongside 2022-23 champions Al Ittihad, but always seemed to have have enough. In the end, Al Taawoun accrued the additional five points to secure AFC Champions League Two qualification.

Yet no sooner had they achieved the unexpected, that the man who masterminded it, almost as surprisingly, departed. Pericles Chamusca’s time at Al Taawoun, spanning two seasons, was complete.

In his place, came Rodolfo Arruabarrena, the Argentine with experience of Gulf football in both the UAE – as well as Al Wasl and Shabab Al Ahli he also managed the Emirates national team – and Qatar, but none in the Kingdom.

Arruabarrena’s introduction to the Saudi game was by no means straightforward, and the 2-0 semi-final defeat to Al Nassr conveyed how competitive the RSL is – especially at the sharp end. Can the former Boca Juniors full-back guide Al Taawoun to similar, or even greater, heights in the upcoming campaign?