Intense title race, tight at bottom, Mitrovic, Gerrard: how RSL shapes up at break

With the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League pausing for the latest FIFA international break, we took the opportunity to take stock of where we are after 10 matchweeks.

Here are some of the major talking points currently in the Saudi Arabian top flight.

Title race is hotting up

RSL champions Al Hilal have proven that in no way do they plan to surrender their crown easily. After going all last season unbeaten in the league, Jorge Jesus’ men remain undefeated this term, and as such, sit top. The capital club's continued rude health is displayed most starkly in their nine wins and a draw from 10 rounds, while they boast the league's most potent attack, with 27 goals.

However, a rejuvenated Al Ittihad are bringing the battle to the title-holders, and capitalised on Al Hilal’s draw in the recent Capital Derby to move to within a point of the summit. In fact, the 2022-23 champions' have won all but one of their 10 league games, the only anomaly the 3-1 defeat to Al Hilal in Matchweek 4.

Al Nassr, meanwhile, may be six points behind their Riyadh rivals, but they have been inspired since Stefano Pioli was installed as manager in September, winning five and drawing two of seven RSL matches. Make no mistake: last season's runners-up will still eye Al Hilal's crown and return to RSL action with a cracker at home to fifth-placed Al Qadsiah.

So, with three matchweeks remaining before the winter break, there’s all to play for at the head of the division.

Al Khaleej punching well above weight

What a job Georgios Donis is doing at Al Khaleej. The Saihat club sit sixth in the table after 10 rounds – an achievement made all the more extraordinary since they suffered three defeats in four matches after beginning the 2024-25 RSL campaign with victory at Damac.

However, their run since the start of last month has been remarkable: Al Khaleej have won four of their past five, and went into the break on the back of three victories on the bounce. What’s made the run even more pleasing is that it’s been fired by Saudi Abdullah Al Salem, who has five goals in his past five appearances, including braces in both Matchweek 9 and 10.

Al Khaleej resume their RSL campaign with a home test against Al Hilal, but given their current form under Donis, might he get one over his former employers? If there is ever any "right" time to take on this Al Hilal side, for Al Khaleej, maybe this is it.

Al Ahli and Al Ettifaq searching for uplift

It’s been a difficult season thus far for two of the league’s headline clubs.

Al Ahli, third last term and with serious aspirations of challenging at the top, head into the international break in eighth, with only four wins from 10 rounds - although they will have been buoyed by Friday’s much-needed 2-0 triumph against Al Raed. It lifted the pressure somewhat on manager Matthias Jaissle, who will expect much more from his team, and know much more is expected of him.

That tension will be felt on the other side of the Kingdom, with Steven Gerrard’s second season at Al Ettifaq not going as planned: the Dammam club are 12th and without a league win in seven matches. What's more, Friday’s 3-1 reverse at Al Hilal means five of those have been defeats. Gerrard, though, remains defiant, a trait that served him so well during his legendary playing career at Liverpool. 

Three promoted clubs holding their own

A look at the RSL standings makes pleasant reading for the league’s trio of new boys – if they come in at different ends of the satisfied scale.

Al Qadsiah lead the way, the Al Khobar club settled snuggly in fifth, only two points off the top four and three from third place. That was perhaps expected given their incredible recruitment drive in the summer, which saw the arrival of the likes of Real Madrid captain Nacho and former Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Yet there has been plenty to cheer about, too, at Al Orobah, who have marked their return to the Saudi top tier by climbing to 13th, even if they’ve lost four of their past five. With four goals in seven league appearances, Cristian Tello has been a real bright spot for the Sakakah side.

Al Kholood, meanwhile, are faring the worst of the three promoted clubs, as they lie one spot outside the relegation zone courtesy simply of a superior goal difference. They may be winless in six in the RSL, but they have still picked up highly creditable draws at Al Fateh, Al Taawoun and against Al Nassr.

Plus, they now have Noureddine Ben Zekri as manager, the RSL’s very own “survival specialist”. So that dictates that they can expect to fight especially hard to retain their top-flight status.

Mitrovic strengthens lead in race for golden boot

The competition for individual honours was always going to represent an enthralling storyline this season, particularly given the plethora of stars on offer in the RSL. One of the most coveted awards goes to the campaign’s top scorer and, at the moment, Aleksandar Mitrovic is the man to beat.

The Al Hilal frontman has built on his dazzling debut season last term – 28 goals in 28 league outings – by netting at an even better rate. Yes, with 11 goals in 10 games, Mitrovic remains in pole for the golden boot. But, looking at the scoring charts, that is by no means to say it’s a given.

The Serbian is chased closest by Karim Benzema, who has rallied from last season’s disappointing debut to score eight goals in eight. Although, the Al Ittihad captain’s absence through injury in the past two matchweeks has stunted his streak a little.

Then there’s a group of four players on six goals, including none other than the golden boot’s current incumbent, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Al Nassr superstar may be going through a relative dry patch by his own, almost-unparalleled standards – no goals in his past two RSL games – but one thing’s guaranteed: Ronaldo will not relinquish the top-scorer gong easily. 

It’s incredibly tight at the bottom

In terms of the so-called relegation scrap, Al Fateh head into the international break propping up the table. The Al Ahsa side have a solitary win this league campaign, with seven defeats the highest in the division. It has been a really difficult introduction to Saudi football for manager Jens Gustafsson, but all is not lost for his team: only three points separate the bottom five sides.

Just above, Al Wehda and Al Fayha are 17th and 16th respectively, and of course would have anticipated better starts under their own new managers – Josef Zinnabauer at the former, Christos Kontis the latter – but, such is the situation in the lower half of the table, that a couple of wins before the winter pause could catapult a team as high as 10th.

What’s for sure is that no one will be taking anything for granted, although on the flip side, been thinking it’s already a lost cause. Just like the fight for honours at the top, the battle of the bottom makes for gripping viewing also.