After an extensive break for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Roshn Saudi League jumps back into life over the weekend. League leaders Al Hilal head to Al Raed whilst high-flying Damac take on a new look Al Shabab side with new signing Ivan Rakitic the standout fixtures of the weekend.
Abha vs Al Taawoun
Key Stat
Abha are unbeaten in all of their home games against Al-Taawoun in the RSL (W1 D3), playing more home games without defeat against them than any other side in the competition.
Players to Watch
Francois Kamano - Abha:
Fresh from representing Guinea at the Cup of Nations, Kamano will be looking to hit the ground running on his return to RSL action. Abha fans and new boss Pitso Mosimane will be hoping the attacker can notch his first goal of the campaign against the Wolves.
Joao Pedro - Al Taawoun:
The Brazilian attacker enjoys playing away and has been involved in five goals in six away games in RSL this season (four goals and one assist) don’t be surprised if the 30-year-old is amongst the goals on Thursday evening.
Did you know?
Abha boss Pitso Mosimane will be managing in his first-ever RSL game. The legendary South African tactician is no stranger to managing in the Kingdom having previously guided Al Ahli to the first division title during the 2022-23 season.
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ABHA V AL TAAWOUN HERE
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Al Khaleej vs Al Ettifaq
Key Stat
Al Ettifaq have failed to win any of their last eight games in the RSL (D5 L3). They have not gone on a longer winless run from December 2016 to March 2017 (11 games – D3 L8), and ended that streak with a 3-1 win over Al Khaleej in April 2017.
Players to Watch
Fabio Martins - Al Khaleej:
The Portuguese playmaker is the difference maker for the side from Saihat in attack. Martins has scored more goals in the RSL against Al Ettifaq than any other team (two goals with Al Khaleej and one with Al Shabab) will he find the back of the net again on Thursday?
Alvaro Medran - Al Ettifaq:
It’s been a busy transfer window for Al Ettifaq as Steven Gerrard looks to upturn the fortunes of the team from Dammam. Spanish playmaker Medran was recruited from Al Taawoun, with the express wish to add some creativity to midfield, which had been lacking in the first part of the season. No time like the present then for the former Real Madrid youth prospect to add to his eight assists.
Did you know?
Al Ettifaq have won the fewest duels in the Saudi Professional League this season (797), while Al Khaleej have won the fewest aerial duels (136).
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Damac vs Al Shabab
Key Stat
Al Shabab are unbeaten in all of their meetings with Damac in the RSL (W6 D3) and have never avoided defeat home and away against Damac in a single season in the competition.
Players to Watch
Georges Kevin N'Koudou - Damac:
After a breakout first half of the season, it will be interesting to see if the attacker can continue his impressive form in front of goal. The former Tottenham man did rack up three assists on Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon during the break and will be the danger man in the Damac attack.
Ivan Rakitic – Al Shabab:
The Croatian midfielder was arguably the star signing of the January transfer window and his winning mentality will be vital if Al Shebab are to haul themselves out of their current mid-table malaise. Add into the mix new coach Vitor Pereira and the Riyadh side are primed for a huge push in the second half of the campaign.
Did you know?
Al Shebab have won their last four games in February in the RSL, while Damac have not won in their last four games in this month (D1 L3).
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DAMAC V AL SHABAB HERE
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Al Wehda vs Al Tai
Key Stat
Al Wehda have won all three of their meetings with Al Tai in the RSL, and are looking to complete the double over their opponents for the second consecutive season.
Players to Watch
Craig Goodwin – Al Wehda:
The Australian attacker impressed at the AFC Asian Cup, scoring twice and earning himself a place in the team of the tournament. Goodwin will be looking to add to his tally of six goals in the RSL, starting against strugglers Al Tai.
Bernard Mensah – Al Tai:
Midfielder Mensah can be considered as one of the best players in the lower half of the RSL standings, and the stats certainly back that opinion up after registering nine goals and an assist in the first half of the season. More of the same will be needed if the Ghanaian can single handedly haul Al Tai out of the drop zone.
Did you know?
Al Tai have won only one of their last 15 away games in the RSL (W1 D3 L11).
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR AL WEHDA V AL TAI HERE
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Al Okhdood vs Al Ahli
Key Stat
This is only the second-ever meeting between Al Okhdood and Al Ahli in the top division. A stoppage-time goal from Franck Kessié handed Al Ahli a slender 1-0 win when the sides first met back in August.
Players to Watch
Leander Tawamba – Al Okhdood:
The Cameroonian attacker has not been involved in more goals than against Al Ahli in the RSL (eight – five goals and three assists) in eight games that includes four goals and two assists in his last four outings against Al Ahli.
Feras Albrikan – Al Ahli:
The Saudi attacker has been involved in 11 goals in his last eight games against the promoted teams in the RSL. The 23-year-old has racked up seven goals and four assists in the first half of the campaign and will be eager to add to his tally.
Did you know?
If Al Ahli draw in this game, it will be their 100th draw in the history of the RSL they will become the sixth team to draw in 100+ games after Al-Shabab (113), Al-Fateh, Al Ittihad and Al Taawoun (105), Al-Raed (100).
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Al Hazem vs Al Fayha
Key Stat
For the first time in their history in the RSL, Al Fayha has lost five consecutive games.
Players to Watch
Toze - Al Hazem:
The Portuguese midfielder scored a 91st-minute equaliser last time out against Al Ettifaq to cap off an encouraging run of three draws, a win and a defeat to give the relegation candidates a timely boost heading into the second half of the campaign. Now the pressure will be on to deliver against an out-of-sorts Al Fayha side. Will the former FC Porto man step up?
Ghislain Konan - Al Fayha:
The side from Al Majma’ah are on a dismal run of form in the league and will be hoping that defender Konan can give a boost to the side after lifting the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast.
Did you know?
Since the start of December, Al Fayha are the only team that have not collected any points in the RSL and have the most goals conceded in this period (17 goals). Can that unfortunate stat be changed around on Saturday against relegation-threatened Al Hazem?
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR AL HAZEM V AL FAYHA HERE
Al Nassr vs Al Fateh
Key Stat
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick and Sadio Mane a brace in Al Nassr’s 5-0 win in the first half of the season. No player from Al Nassr has ever scored more than three goals in a single season against Al Fateh.
Players to Watch
Sadio Mane – Al Nassr:
After a disappointing round of 16 exit in the African Cup of Nations, Senegal captain Mane will be getting back to business in the RSL. The former Liverpool man closed out the first half of the season with a brace against Al Ittifaq and will be eager to get among the goals against Al Fateh.
Cristian Tello - Al Fateh:
The former FC Barcelona man has been in sublime form, bagging six goals in the RSL this campaign. Al Fateh will look to break quickly on the counter-attack on Al Nassr and Tello could be the difference maker on Friday night!
Did you know?
Al Nassr and Al Fateh have played four games in February in the RSL and all of them have ended in a draw (2015, 2020, 2021, 2023).
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR AL NASSR V AL FATEH HERE
Al Hilal vs Al Raed
Key Stat
Al Hilal have only lost once to Al Raed in their 31 meetings in the RSL. That came in a 2-1 home defeat back in October 2013.
Players to Watch
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Al Hilal:
The Serbian midfielder came up with an important goal during the midseason break as Al Hilal secured the Riyadh Cup with a 2-0 win over title rivals Al Nassr. Milinkovic-Savic will be targeting an assist for compatriot Aleksandar Mitrovic who is eyeing to score in his eleventh consecutive RSL game.
Karim El Berkaoui – Al Raed:
The Moroccan is on a hot streak having scored in his last two games in the RSL. Interestingly, the striker has succeeded in scoring in three consecutive games in the competition only twice (March-April 2021 and September 2021).
Did you know?
A win for Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus on Sunday would mean that the Portuguese tactician has registered 30 wins in just 37 games in the RSL, making Jesus the fastest coach to achieve 30 wins for Al Hilal in the competition.
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Al Ittihad vs Al Riyadh
Key Stat
This will only be the second-ever meeting between Al Ittihad and Al-Riyadh in the RSL. The first one ended with a 4-0 win for Al Ittihad in the game that saw Karim Benzema score his first goal in the competition.
Players to watch
Abdulrazak Hamdallah – Al Ittihad:
The Moroccan hitman loves playing against promoted teams and has ten goals in ten games against promoted sides, including a brace against Al Riyadh when the teams first met.
Yahya Al Shehri – Al Riyadh:
The Saudi Arabian came up with an assist as Al Riyadh picked up a vital 1-0 win against Damac to close out the first half of the season on a high. Al Shehri is now only one assist away from levelling with Jihad Al Hussein as the all-time assist maker in the league, can the diminutive playmaker come up with a moment of magic against the reigning RSL champions?
Did you know?
Al Riyadh are the only team that have not scored any goal from outside the box in the RSL this season whilst Al Ittihad are the only team that has not conceded any goal from outside the box.
