PREVIEW: 2024-25 RSL Matchweek 1 Day 2

After the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League kicked into action on Thursday, it’s time for the second instalment of Matchweek 1, with a couple of Saudi top-flight new boys opening their respective accounts.

Damac v Al Khaleej

Damac Club Stadium, Khamis Mushait - KICK-OFF 19:10 

The curtain comes up on Friday’s action with a match pitting against one another two teams separated by a single position last season, as 10th-placed Damac host an Al Khaleej side who finished 11th.

Experienced Romanian Cosmin Contra will once again lead Damac’s attempts to push into the top half having last term let slip a strong start. The Khamis Mushaitclub will once again look to Georges Kevin-N’Koudou to have the sort of impact he had in his debut RSL campaign: in 2023-24, the Cameroon winger hit 15 goals and recorded five assists in 31 appearances.

In contrast, it’s all change in the Al Khaleej dugout, with Greek coach Georgios Donis swapping Al Wehda for a move to Saihat, replacing Pedro Emanuel. Of their notable transfer business, Al Khaleej have brought in defender Marcel Tisserand on loan from Al Ettifaq.

The DR Congo will be keen to start his move on a positive footing and help Al Khaleej show they’re the ones to finish higher this season.

Get your tickets for Damac v Al Khaleej HERE

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Al Ahli v Al Orobah

King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah - KICK-OFF 21:00 

Having marked their return to the top flight last season with an excellent third-placed finish, Al Ahli are surely seeking even an improvement on that. The Jeddah club have been relatively quiet in the transfer window this summer, although mercurial winger Allan Saint-Maximin has departed, with Alexsander, the young Brazilian midfielder, coming in.

That’s not to say Matthias Jaissle’s side are short in talent: in Riyad Mahrez and Feras Al Buraikan, they have last season’s lead assister and top-scoring Saudi Arabian, while captain Roberto Firmino is certain to want to make up for his modest 2023-24 campaign. The Brazilian managed only nine goals in 32 RSL matches.

Al Orobah, meanwhile, are getting ready for their first season in the top tier for the first time since 2015. Back then, and having finished their previous campaign – their RSL debut – in eighth, the club suffered relegation. This time, while they’ve yet to replenish their squad comprehensively, they have recruited Portuguese personality Alvaro Pacheco as manager.

One thing’s guaranteed: the Al Ahli faithful will turn out, as ever, in large number. The atmosphere alone may just carry them to an opening victory against an Orobah team still settling.

Get your tickets for Al Ahli v Al Orobah HERE

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Al Qadsiah v Al Fateh

Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam - KICK-OFF 21:00 

Few RSL clubs’ recruitment committees have been as active this summer as the team at Al Qadsiah. Back in the lead division for the first time since 2020-21, the First Division League champions have stockpiled some seriously exciting foreign imports, such as Real Madrid captain Nacho, former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and hugely promising Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez.

Manager Michel, another Real Madrid great, has been backed well by his employers; subsequently, the Al Khobar side will want a considerable bang for their buck.

That quest begins just up the road in Dammam, against an Al Fateh team who performed superbly last season in finishing seventh. In contrast, Slaven Bilic’s men have been quiet in the market this summer, and so will again see Moroccan Mourad Batna (eight goal, eight assists in 2023-24 RSL) and Lucas Zelayaran (eight goals, nine assists) as their go-to men.

Get your tickets for Al Qadsiah v Al Fateh HERE