Tests for Al Wehda and Damac, Jeddah set for absolute thriller

The middle round of fixtures in Matchweek 7 throws up a trio of intriguing encounters, such as sides with contrasting fortunes involved in the early kick-offs, and a compelling encounter in Jeddah.

Here’s our matchday preview.

Al Raed v Al Wehda

Al Raed Club Stadium, Buraidah - KICK-OFF 18:05

Al Raed go into Saturday’s early kick-off with some wind in their sails following a super result last time out, when they defeated Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq 1-0 in Dammam.

The victory got Odair Hellmann’s side back on track after successive defeats, but it has still been a rather decent start to the season for the Buraidah outfit; with two wins and a draw from six, they sit in the top half of the table.

In contrast, Al Wehda have not enjoyed the best of campaigns thus far, with the Mecca side on a run of three defeats and a draw from four RSL matches – including that 7-1 loss in The Old Derby. For that, they lie just above the relegation zone.

Experiencing Saudi Arabian football for the first time, Josef Zinnbauer has found the role tough to settle into. But, if he is to get any respite, the German will have to flip a recent record: Al Raed have not lost to Al Wehda in their past four RSL meetings (W3, D1).

Get your tickets for Al Raed v Al Wehda HERE 

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Damac v Al Taawoun

Damac Club Stadium, Khamis Mushait - KICK-OFF 18:20

Damac will be hoping to use their morale-boosting 1-0 win against high-flying Al Shabab just before the break as a launchpad for a campaign that until then had not kicked into life.

Before that, Cosmin Contra’s men lost four out of five RSL matches, and exited the King’s Cup at the hands of second-tier team Al Najma. However, Georges-Kevin N’Koudou has been back among the goals – three in six RSL games – and should be ably supported by the likes of Habib Diallo and Francois Kamano.

Al Taawoun, meanwhile, appear once more set for another promising season. Having finished fourth last term, the Buraidah club are only one spot worse off through six rounds and have clearly taken immediately to new manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena. They come into Saturday’s encounter having won two and drawn one of their past four league matches, including the 2-0 triumph at home to Al Fateh in Matchday 6.

Musa Barrow continues to spearhead Al Taawoun's attack; the Gambia international has seven goals in all this season – three in the RSL – and found the net for his country during the international break. Damac, though, will be seeking to snap an unwelcome streak: they haven’t beaten Al Taawoun in six RSL matches, losing three of those.

Get your tickets for Damac v Al Taawoun HERE

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Al Ittihad v Al Qadsiah

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

A thriller in Jeddah closes Saturday’s action when second-placed Al Ittihad host Al Qadsiah in sixth at what is sure to be a raucous King Abdullah Sports City.

Laurent Blanc’s home side have been purring this season, with six wins from seven matches across all competitions; indeed, their only defeat in six RSL outings came in the Saudi Clasico to champions, and 2024-25 frontrunners, Al Hilal.

Al Ittihad’s attack has been incredible this campaign, led by reinvigorated captain Karim Benzema (second on the RSL top-scorers’ list with seven goals), Houssem Aouar (third, with five) and Moussa Diaby (the league’s No.1 assist maker, with seven).

In Al Qadsiah, the 2022-23 champions face a team boasting the joint-best defensive record in the RSL (three goals conceded). Yet finding the net has proven an altogether different matter, with the newly promoted side having scored six goals in six games.

Much, then, will fall on the likes of frontmen Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Julian Quinones, who have three goals between them. Al Qadsiah will be intent on bouncing back from defeat to Al Riyadh before the break. Getting a result would represent no mean feat, of course, especially given the two teams' history: in 16 RSL clashes, Al Ittihad have lost only once.

Get your tickets for Al Ittihad v Al Qadsiah HERE