Four RSL clubs compete for Super Cup glory

The Saudi Super Cup returns this week, but this time the competition offers something new to the Roshn Saudi League sides competing.

For the fourth time in its 11-year history, but first since 2018, the cup will take place outside the Kingdom, with the UAE to host the 2024 edition of the competition which had previously been played three tiems in London, hosted at Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road in 2015 and 2018 and at Fulham's Craven Cottage in 2016.

All three matches will therefore be staged in the Emirati capital, headlined by a hugely anticipated encounter between the RSL’s top two sides, Al Hilal and Al Nassr, at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium on Monday night.

In Monday’s other semi-final, hosted at Al Nahyan Stadium, RSL champions Al Ittihad take on Al Wehda looking for a victory to take them within one match of retaining the trophy. Al Ittihad won the most recent Super Cup, in 2022.

Here we look at how the teams fare coming into the 2024 Saudi Super Cup.

Al Hilal

The current RSL leaders, Al Hilal enter the competition on the back of 31 consecutive victories and will be looking to extend that world record in the UAE. The Riyadh side, three-time Super Cup winners, warmed up for the Abu Dhabi tournament with a 4-1 RSL victory at Al Khaleej on Friday. Unbeaten in the league this season, it maintained Al Hilal’s 12-point lead at the summit over closest challengers Al Nassr.

Al Nassr

The team nearest Al Hilal in the standings, Al Nassr will be intent on getting some capital bragging rights having lost the Riyadh derby earlier in the campaign, 3-0 in December. Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2023-24 RSL top scorer, was rested initially in Friday’s 1-0 victory at Damac, but having scored back-to-back hat-tricks in the league previous to that, the Portuguese star will be the one Al Hilal will for sure have to pay particular attention to.

Al Ittihad

Having lifted the Saudi Super Cup in 2022 with a 2-0 victory against Al Fayha, Al Ittihad are looking to keep the trophy housed in Jeddah. The nine-time domestic champions have come into some form recently under manager Marcelo Gallardo, with six league wins from nine, and Friday’s goalless draw against Al Taawoun maintained their fourth-placed position in the RSL. With Karim Benzema and Abderrazak Hamdallah in attack – the latter has 18 goals in 22 RSL appearances this season – Al Ittihad undoubtedly have the firepower to succeed again. 

Al Wehda

Making their Saudi Super Cup debut, Al Wehda are out to cause an upset in the Emirates. The Mecca-based side have finally come into a little bit of form in the RSL, defeating Al Fayha in Matchweek 26 before almost seeing off third-placed Al Ahli last time out – Roger Ibanez’s late equaliser robbed Al Wehda of a win. Previous to the twin fixtures, Georgios Donis’ team were without a win in eight league matches, meaning they sit 12th in the table with seven rounds remaining.

The 2024 Saudi Super Cup final will take place on Thursday, at Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium.