PREVIEW: Roshn Saudi League matchweek 17

The Roshn Saudi League returns on Thursday evening with a huge clash at the bottom of the table between Abha and Al Hazem, alongside Al Wehda striker Odion Igalho facing former club Al Hilal in the standout fixtures of the round. Champions Al Ittihad and Al Nassr do not play because of the former's FIFA Club World Cup commitments.

Abha vs Al Hazem

Key Stat

Al Hazem have had the better of Abha in their meetings in the RSL down the years. In the six games so far, Al Hazem have won three, drawn two and lost only once against their relegation rivals.

Players to watch

Karl Toko Ekambi – Abha: The Cameroonian striker has not found the back of the net in his last three outings in the RSL, and is certainly due a goal. The former Lyon man popped up with a vital strike against Al Okhdood as Abha picked up a 3-2 win back in November, and another would be very much welcomed against Al Hazem.

Toze – Al Hazem: The Portuguese playmaker scored a decisive penalty as Al Hazem picked up a huge 2-0 win over Al Fateh last time out. With nine goal contributions (five goals and four assists), the former Porto man is looking to become only the seventh Al Hazem player to reach 10 goal contributions in a RSL campaign.

Did you know?

After beating Al Fateh at the weekend, Al Hazem are looking to register back-to-back wins in the RSL for the first time since September 2021. Interestingly, that is also the last time the team from Ar Rass kept two consecutive clean sheets in the competition.

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Al Okhdood vs Al Tai

Key Stat

The game at the Prince Hathloul Sports City stadium will be the first ever meeting between Al Okhdood and Al Tai.

Players to watch

Solomon Kvirkvelia – Al Okhdood: The side from Najran have kept only one clean sheet in their past 11 RSL outings. Time, then, for the big Georgian defender to step up against a fellow struggling side.

Tareq Abdullah – Al Tai: The Saudi Arabian scored a spectacular consolation goal as Al Tai narrowly lost 2-1 to league leaders Al Hilal last time out. That was his first ever RSL goal for the defender, in eight seasons in the division. More of the same on Thursday evening would be very much welcome.

Did you know?

A goal for Al Okhdood striker Leander Tawamba would mean he is only the third player behind Odion Ighalo and Julio Tavares to score against Al Tai with two or more different RSL teams.

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Al Fayha vs Al Ahli

Key Stat

Al Ahli have kept a clean sheet in their past three RSL outings. The Jeddah giants have kept only four consecutive clean sheets on two prior occasions: March-April 2018 and September-October 2018. Can Al Ahli make some more history on Thursday evening?

Players to watch

Vladimir Stojkovic - Al Fayha: After conceding four in the last round against Al Taawoun, plenty of focus will be on the veteran keeper. The former Serbian international will have to be at his very best as Al Fayha look to keep out a free-scoring Al Ahli team.

Roberto Firmino – Al Ahli: A hat-trick against Al Hazem way back in August has been the only goal contribution from the former Liverpool man to date. Al Ahli have been lacking consistency lately, and the Brazilian could be a difference maker from the bench in what may be a tight game against Al Fayha.

Did you know?

Al Ahli striker Firas Al Buraikan could play his 100th match in the RSL. Al Fayha are one of five teams that Al Buraikan has not scored against in the competition (five matches), but he has never played six matches against the same team without scoring.

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Al Raed vs Damac

Key Stat

Mohamed Fouzair scored his only hat-trick in the RSL to date as Al Raed thrashed Damac 5-0 to register their joint-highest victory in the RSL the last time these two teams met.

Players to watch

Mohamed Fouzair – Al Raed: As mentioned, the Moroccan certainly enjoys getting amongst the goals against Damac, with seven goal contributions (six goals and one assist) against the side from Khamis Mushait. Don’t be surprised if Fouzair finds the back of the net on Friday night.

George Kevin Nkoudou – Damac: The Cameroonian has been on fire in his debut RSL season, and his brace against defending champions Al Ittihad last round underlined his undoubted quality. Nkoudou is now just three goal contributions away from being Damac’s joint-highest goal scorer and assist maker in the RSL.

Did you know?

There has never been a draw between Al Raed and Damac in the RSL. Al Raed have the upper hand, winning six of the eight encounters between the two teams.

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Al Fateh vs Al Shabab

Key Stat

Al Fateh have not scored in their past three outings in the RSL. The last time they failed to score in four RSL games was way back in November 2016.

Players to Watch

Abbas Al Hassan – Al Fateh: The teenage winger was the last goal scorer for Al Fateh in the league, on the 9th of November. The 19-year old has shown plenty of promise in his debut RSL campaign, and will have to be at his very best if he is to lift the team from Al Ahsa out of their current malaise.

Yannick Carrasco – Al Shabab: The Riyadh side have tasted victory only once in their past five RSL encounters, and were dumped out of the King’s Cup by city rivals Al Nassr midweek. With Ever Banega suspended for the game, it would be a good time for the Belgian to contribute and show leadership for his struggling side.

Did you know?

Al Shabab have only won once away from home this season, which is the lowest tally of wins in their first eight away matches in a single season in the competition.

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Al Hilal vs Al Wehda

Key Stat

Al Hilal have lost only once in 20 matches against Al Wehda in the RSL, winning 16 and drawing three. That solitary defeat was at home in December 2020.

Players to watch

Al Hilal – Aleksandar Mitrovic: The Serbian international has scored 14 goals in his first 14 matches in the RSL; only Brazilian Wesley has scored more for Al Hilal (15 goals, in the 2012-13 campaign). So, if Mitrovic grabs two against Al Wehda, he will enter the club’s history books.

Al Wehda – Odion Ighalo: Former Al Hilal attacker Ighalo played 40 matches with the Riyadh giants in the RSL, scoring 31 goals and notching six assists during his time with the club. After leaving in the summer, the Nigerian will be looking to get one over his former employers.

Did you know?

With 79%, Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus has the highest win rate in the history of the RSL among all the managers who have played at least 30 matches. He also has the fewest losses among these coaches, with one.

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Al Riyadh vs Al Khaleej

Key Stat

This will be the first match between Al Riyadh and Al Khaleej in the RSL. Al Riyadh have not lost in six matches against Al Khaleej in their previous encounters (W3, D3), and have not conceded more than one goal in any of these games.

Players to watch

Al Riyadh – Andre Gray: The Jamaican international grabbed a consolation as Al Riyadh lost 4-1 to Al Nassr last time out. The former Watford and Burnley striker has had a slow start to life in the RSL, and will want to step up in front of goal, especially against the team one spot above them in the table.

Al Khaleej – Jung Woo-young: After sealing their place in the semi-finals of the King’s Cup midweek, confidence will be high within the Al Khaleej camp. However, they will be without club captain Pedro Martins, who is suspended for this crunch clash. South Korean international midfielder Woo-young will therefore have to be at his dynamic best.

Did you know?

Al Khaleej have conceded the most goals from outside the box in the RSL this season (seven alongside Al Wehda and Abha), but Al Riyadh are the only team who have not scored any goal from outside the box.

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Al Ettifaq vs Al Taawoun

Key Stat

Al Ettifaq have a slight edge over Al Taawoun in their meetings in the RSL, winning nine to eight and drawing five – Al Ettifaq have won only once in their last six matches against Al Taawoun (W1 D2 L3).

Players to watch

Al Ettifaq – Moussa Dembele: The French attacker came off the bench in the last round as Al Ettifaq shared the points against Al Shabab. Al Ettifaq have a win rate of 63% when Dembele start, and manager Steven Gerrard will be hoping the former Celtic man will be fit enough to start in this crunch clash against Al Taawoun.

Al Taawoun – Joao Pedro: The Brazilian attacker has scored the past three goals for the team away from home in the RSL (a goal against Al Khaleej and two against Al Shabab;, only two players have scored four consecutive goals for an away team in the competition’s history (Mohammed Al Rashid in 2012 and Rabie Sufiani in 2016).

Did you know?

Al Ettifaq are one of two teams (alongside Al Fateh) who have not scored more than one goal since the start of November in the RSL – they have one goal from 61 shots during this period. Meanwhile, they are level with Al Fateh in terms of the biggest negative difference between scored and expected goals (-3.5).