Donis returns to Al Hilal with Al Khaleej confounding expectations

To get a sense of just how significant it is that Al Khaleej are currently sixth in the Roshn Saudi League almost one third into the 2024-25 campaign, one must look back over their recent history in the league.

This represents only their sixth season in the RSL in the Saudi Pro League era, and at the end of only one of the 142 rounds in those five previous campaigns have they sat higher in the table than they do now. Back then, 10 rounds into the 2015-16 season, Al Khaleej actually sat one place better off than they do now, in fifth.

So, to be sixth at the moment, on the back of three straight RSL wins, puts the class of 2024-25 in rarified air. The question on everyone’s lips is how long can they keep the good times rolling?

A disastrous run to end the 2023-24 season saw Al Khaleej concluded without a single victory in their final eight games. Only a run of six without defeat preceding that unwelcome streak saved Pedro Emanuel’s side from relegation. All in, it was enough to force a change in management during the off-season.

Out went relative RSL veteran Emanuel, who also has experience coaching Al Taawoun and Al Nassr, and in came another stalwart of the Saudi scene, former Greek international Georgios Donis.

Donis is no stranger to top-flight football in the Kingdom having spent time in charge of Al Hilal, Al Wehda (across two stints) and Al Fateh, while taking the wider region into consideration, he also worked in the UAE with Sharjah.

It was a summer appointment that, in truth, generated little fanfare outside of those who follow Al Khaleej, but one that is bearing significant fruit early in his tenure - albeit after some initial struggles.

An opening-day 1-0 win at Damac to begin the season got things off to the ideal start but following that up with a run of three defeats and a draw certainly wasn’t in the script, as the team took time to adjust to Donis’ new methods. During that time, the former Panathinaikos and Blackburn midfielder tinkered with his formation and personnel, trying to land upon the magic formula that would bring success to the team from Saihat.

Across three matches against Al Taawoun, Al Fayha and Al Ittihad, Donis employed three different formations - 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and 5-3-2, respectively - and tinkered with the starting XI each time, using 16 different players across those three matchweeks.

But since last month’s 1-0 triumph at home Al Kholood in Matchweek 6, where from then Al Khaleej have won four of their past five, only falling to Al Ahli, the tinkering has stopped. Understandably, Donis has settled on both system and personnel. The 4-2-3-1 has become Al Khaleej’s preferred style of play, with only 13 players used across those five RSL matches. In the past three - all of which have resulted in wins - Donis has named an unchanged starting XI.

That consistency in approach and make-up of the team has paid dividends, and handsomely: Al Khaleej are one of only four clubs to win the three RSL games heading into the recent FIFA international break. The other three? Al Ittihad, Al Shabab and Al Qadsiah, three of the current top five.

If you factor in goals scored, Al Khaleej are the league’s most in-form team across the past three matchweeks, with a maximum nine points and nine goals scored.

They also possess the league’s hottest Saudi Arabian striker in Abdullah Al Salem, the relatively unheralded 31-year-old who has bagged four goals in his past two appearances to be the leading local goalscorer in the league this season. Ably supported by long-time RSL standout Fabio Martins, Al Salem has five in total.

While it may be a small sample size, it’s still a significant achievement for Al Khaleej, who in budget, typically fall behind Eastern Province neighbours, Al Ettifaq and Al Qadsiah. Intriguingly, they face both in the next three weeks.

Before then, however, Al Khaleej meet head-on their toughest test of the season, when this weekend Donis comes up against his former side, defending champions and league leaders Al Hilal. Taking points of the country’s current top team is no easy task, something only Riyadh rivals Al Nassr have managed - twice - so far in this calendar year.

Still without Salem Al Dawsari, Ruben Neves and Neymar, the absence of the star trio perhaps offers a glimmer of hope for Donis and his side as they welcome a team to Dammam who are looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league to a remarkable 47 matches.

If Donis’ side are to take something from the game, they’re going to have to overcome history to do so. In the 12 previous meetings between the two, Al Khaleej have failed to win a single encounter, with Al Hilal taking maximum points on 11 occasions. The outlier came all the way back in 2006, when the fixture ended goalless.

Further, only twice have Al Khaleej managed to score against their more-fancied opponents. Each of those games, tough, concluded in heavy 4-1 and 6-1 defeats.

Simply looking at that, it doesn’t make for pretty reading. However, history is there to be rewritten, especially given this Al Khaleej side are penning one of the stories of the season thus far. With ex-Al Hilal man Donis at the helm, they’re showing they are different to those that have come before them.