Al Ettifaq bid to build momentum, Al Wehda in need of lift

Matchweek 6 of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League gets up and running on Thursday, with a few teams looking to have turned a corner, and star names keen to make an impact

Here’s our preview of the action.

Al Ettifaq v Al Raed

Al Ettifaq Club Stadium, Dammam - KICK-OFF 18:00 

Steven Gerrard’s side get things under way on Thursday when they host Al Raed – and they will surely be buoyed by their last-gasp point collected at Al Taawoun in Matchweek 5.

It took Moussa Dembele’s 93rd-minute goal to salvage the 1-1 draw and get the Dammam club back on track following their 3-0 home defeat to Al Nassr the previous matchweek. However, that remains Al Ettifaq’s only defeat in six matches this season across all competitions; impressively, they’ve won four of those.

In Al Raed, they welcome a team with a solitary RSL victory this campaign under new manager Odair Hellman. Defeat last time out away to Al Shabab is no disgrace, of course, even if the visitors did take the lead through Amir Sayoud before losing 2-1.

Yet, if history is anything to go by, Al Raed will face a difficult challenge on the East Coast: Al Ettifaq have won more times against Al Raed (12) than against any other RSL opponent, and scored the most goals, at 43.

Get your tickets for Al Ettifaq v Al Raed HERE 

----

Al Okhdood v Al Ittihad

Prince Hathloul Sports City, Najran - KICK-OFF 21:00 

The two teams come into this encounter off the back of hitting four goals past their respective opponents in Matchweek 5, with Al Okhdood triumphing 4-2 at Al Fateh and Al Ittihad casting aside Al Khaleej 4-1.

For Thursday’s hosts, their victory represented a first in the RSL this season – and first with summer arrival Stjepan Tomas in the dugout. Previous to that, the Croat had four defeats and a draw from five matches (including the King’s Cup elimination to second tier Al Arabi).

Then again, Al Ittihad a hardly a team you want to meet if you’re attempting to build momentum. The 2022-23 champions have been brilliant in accruing wins this season, with four from five RSL outings. The 7-1 Old Derby success against Al Wehda in Matchweek 3 remains to this point the performance of the campaign.

The only blemish on new manager Laurent Blanc’s copybook was the 3-1 Saudi Clasico loss to champions Al Hilal, which saw the rivals trade places at the top of the table.

However, with captain Karim Benzema (6) and Hossem Aouar (four) sitting second and third in the scoring charts, the Jeddah giants possess fearsome and in-form firepower. And, if in search of a landmark moment from this encounter, last season Talal Haji struck against Al Okhdood to become the youngest player to score in RSL history. He was 16 years and 175 days old.

Get your tickets for Al Okhdood v Al Ittihad HERE

---

Al Wehda v Al Fayha

King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, Mecca - KICK-OFF 21:00 

Thursday’s other late kick-off throws up two clubs separated by only goal difference towards the foot of the table. Although, they arrive in Matchweek 6 in considerably contrasting moods.

Al Wehda began the 2024-25 season with four points from the opening two matchweeks, but have since fallen to three successive defeats, including that humbling in The Old Derby. The 2-0 reverse last time out at Al Nassr means Josef Zinnbauer’s men have scored only once in those three matches, so the German will be expecting the likes of RSL veteran Odion Ighalo and Australian international Craig Goodwin to rediscover their knack for finding the net.

In contrast, and themselves with a new manager in charge in the shape of Christos Kontis, Al Fayha started the campaign with four consecutive defeats before a stalemate at Al Khaleej in Matchweek 4 provided their first point.

They have since won twice, first in the King’s Cup, and then on Sunday to finally get off the mark in the RSL, with a 2-0 win at home to Al Riyadh. The latter lifted Al Fayha from the bottom of the standings to 15th (Al Wehda lie 16th).

Something will have to give, though, if they are to add another victory; Al Fateh have failed to score in their past three away matches in the top flight. They have never gone four without a goal.

Get your tickets for Al Wehda v Al Fayha HERE