Super Cup final offers glimpse of what lies ahead

So, this weekend’s Saudi Super Cup final pits against one another last season’s top two in the Roshn Saudi League – and the seemingly already in-form two lead strikers from the 2023-24 competition, as well.

On Tuesday night, in the first competitive fixture of the Saudi Arabian football season, Al Hilal defeated Al Ahli 4-1 on penalties in Abha in the Super Cup’s opening semi-final.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, second last term in the race for the golden boot, struck in the final minute of normal time to draw the score level at 1-1 - Roberto Firmino had opened the scoring - and extended Al Hilal’s unbeaten domestic run to an incredible 42 matches.

Mitrovic, who netted 28 goals in 28 games in his debut RSL campaign, then cooly converted in the shootout.

Not to be outdone, of course, last season’s RSL top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, quickly reclaimed the limelight on Wednesday. The Al Nassr captain notched the second in his side’s 2-0 victory against Al Taawoun in Abha - impressive Saudi winger Ayman Yahya grabbed the first - to set up Saturday’s Super Cup showpiece against defending champions Al Hilal.

Ronaldo's goal, a sharp, left-footed finish from Sultan Al Ghannam’s pull-back, also set something of a marker for the upcoming RSL season. With an RSL single-campaign record of 35 goals in 2023-24, the Portuguese superstar appears laser-focused on retaining the golden boot in 2024-25.

The Super Cup final will no doubt be viewed by both teams as an early chance to signal their intent for the next nine months and beyond. Al Hilal prevailed last season on that record-breaking run to the RSL title; Al Nassr, their closest challengers in 2023-24, will be fastened to more than bridging the gap right from when the new campaign launches on August 22.

On Saturday, there is a boost for one team, and a blow for the other. Al Hilal are poised to welcome back defender Kalidou Koulibaly from suspension, while in contrast Al Nassr must make do without key midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. On Wednesday, the Croatian was sent off deep into the clash with Al Taawoun.

And what part will competing goalkeepers play? Yassine Bono was inspired in the shootout on Tuesday, and is the reigning RSL goalkeeper of the year. In the opposite goal, Al Nassr's new signing Bento will be thinking of an early trophy and perhaps Bono's individual one at the conclusion of the upcoming RSL campaign.

Remember, too, that some of the finest Saudi talent will be on show, such as Al Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari, namesake Nasser Al Dawsari, and Mohammed Kanno. Or Al Nassr's Ali Lajami and the aforementioned Al Ghannam and Yahya.

Undeniably, given the arch-rivals and goal-hungry actors in direct confrontation, the Super Cup final has thus taken on even greater significance. Not that it was needed, obviously, considering the season’s first piece of silverware is up for grabs.

However, Al Hilal versus Al Nassr offers a tantalising glimpse into what may play out throughout a mouthwatering 2024-25 RSL.