Lamouchi and Gerrard meet in capital, Al Ittihad out to take top spot

Matchweek 11 of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League draws to a close on Sunday, with several sides searching for form, while Al Ittihad are out to supplant Al Hilal at the summit.

Here’s our matchday preview.

Damac v Al Kholood

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, Abha - KICK-OFF 16:40

Sunday’s early kick-off sees an inconsistent Damac attempting to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season. In fact, the southern side have registered only three victories from 11 matches across all competitions in 2024-25, but come into the clash in Abha on the back of a superb 3-2 triumph at Al Wehda just before the international break.

Georges-Kevin N’Koudou is very much the man in form, with four goals in his past five RSL matches (he has six in all in the league this season) and having earlier this week found the net for Cameroon.

Yet, while Al Kholood lie 16th, a win would move them to within a point of their 11th-placed opponents. It’s been six league matches without victory, although there were three successive draws since Noureddine Ben Zekri replaced Paulo Duarte in the dugout – until the untimely 2-0 reverse last time out at home to Al Shabab.

Al Kholood do have their work cut out: Damac have lost only once at home this season, and that was on the opening day.

Get your tickets for Damac v Al Kholood HERE 

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Al Riyadh v Al Ettifaq

Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh - KICK-OFF 17:40

A mid-table encounter may form the day’s middle fixture, but there is much to play for for both Al Riyadh and Al Ettifaq, who are separated in the table by only three points.

Sitting 10th, Al Riyadh have stumbled lately, with three defeats and a draw from their past four matches across all competitions, including elimination from the King’s Cup last 16. Previous to this run, however, Sabri Lamouchi’s men had won four in five.

It will therefore be extremely interesting to see how they handle Al Ettifaq, who surprisingly lie 12th in the table after an inauspicious run of results in the RSL. Manager Steven Gerrard was publicly backed by the club during the international break, with former Rangers head coach Michael Beale appointed the Liverpool legend’s assistant.

Since beginning the 2024-25 campaign with three league victories on the bounce, Al Ettifaq are winless in seven in the competition. Last time out, they were beaten 3-1 by champions Al Hilal, so a reprieve is needed. They will take some solace, though, from the fact the Al Hilal reverse sits as their only defeat away from home in this season’s top flight.

Get your tickets for Al Riyadh v Al Ettifaq HERE

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Al Ittihad v Al Fateh

Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sport City, Jeddah - KICK-OFF 20:00 

After Al Hilal’s upset defeat to Al Khaleej on Saturday, Al Ittihad come into their home match-up with Al Fateh with an added pep in their step; win here, and the 2022-23 champions usurp their Riyadh rivals at the summit.

Laurent Blanc’s side have an incredible record thus far in the manager’s debut season, winning 11 of 12 games across all competitions. In fact, since losing to Al Hilal in Matchweek 4, they’ve reeled off eight victories in a row.

Al Ittihad have been hit, however, with some terribly disappointing news: Moussa Diaby, the summer signing who leads the 2024-25 RSL assist charts, will be out for up to eight weeks with an ankle injury.

While they would never want to see an opponent injured, Al Fateh might take some comfort from Diaby’s absence. Jens Gustafsson’s team are rooted to the bottom of the table, without a win in nine matches across all competitions – a streak that extends back to August.

In the league alone, Al Fateh have lost six of their past eight, including the 2-1 home defeat to Al Khaleej in Matchweek 10. Can they prevent this round concluding with Al Ittihad top and themselves still propping up the standings?

Get your tickets for Al Ittihad v Al Fateh HERE