PREVIEW: 2024-25 RSL Matchweek 1 Day 1

The Roshn Saudi League wheels resume spinning with the start of the 2024-25 season on Thursday evening, when the new campaign gets under way with three fixtures across Riyadh, Buraidah and Mecca.

Al Taawoun v Al Fayha

Al Taawoun Club Stadium, Buraidah - KICK-OFF 19:10 

The 2024-25 RSL season kicks off in Qassim to the north of the capital, where last season’s surprise package Al Taawoun welcome Al Fayha, who travel from the nearby town of Al Majma’ah.

Both sides will be led by new coaches, with former UAE national team boss Rodolfo Arruabarrena replacing Pericles Chamusca at Al Taawoun, and Greek Christos Kontis appointed at Al Fayha following the departure of long-serving Serbian Vuk Rasovic.

Last term, Al Taawoun broke into the top four, booking a place in the AFC Champions League 2 as the fourth-placed team in the RSL, and they will be bidding to cement their status as heavyweights while balancing continental and domestic commitments.

Al Fayha finished firmly mid-table, but will once again looking for Zambian forward Fashion Sakala to drive them on, with the former Rangers man having racked a club-record 19 league goals in 2023-24.

Get your tickets for Al Taawoun v Al Fayha HERE

----

Al Nassr v Al Raed

Al Awwal Park, Riyadh - KICK-OFF 21:00 

Cristiano Ronaldo’s side finished second last term, and a disappointing defeat to their city rivals Al Hilal in the recent Saudi Super Cup final left them reeling. It was the points dropped in the first two rounds of 2023-24 - two draws - that eventually cost them the title as unbeaten Al Hilal eventually ran away at the summit.

This time around, Luis Castro’s men get their journey going at home against an Al Raed team that barely escaped relegation, retaining their tradition of playing in the top division since 2008-09.

Al Nassr captain Ronaldo will be eyeing a career milestone of 900 professional goals should he manage to produce a hat-trick on the opening weekend. Since making his Al Nassr debut in February 2023, Ronaldo has bagged RSL trebles against Al Wehda (twice), Damac, Al Fateh, Al Tai and Abha.

Meanwhile, there will be a new man in the dugout for the away side: Brazilian Odair Hellmann was in charge of Al Riyadh last time around, guiding them to avoid relegation on their maiden RSL campaign and has since swapped the capital for Buraidah. Hellmann’s two encounters against Castro last season ended in a 4-1 defeat in Riyadh and a 2-2 draw in Buraidah.

Get your tickets for Al Nassr v Al Raed HERE

---

Al Wehda v Al Riyadh

King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, Mecca - KICK-OFF 21:00 

Rounding up the action on the first day of RSL football is an encounter between two teams that finished a point apart last season: Al Wehda ended the campaign in 13th place, while Al Riyadh finished 14.

Both have since made changes in the managerial hot seat, with German Josef Zinnbauer arriving at Al Wehda from Raja Casablanca to replace Georgios Donis, who left for Al Khaleej, and Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi succeeding Hellmann at the capital club’s helm.

In terms of recruitment, Al Riyadh have been busy this window of late, picking up top talent from relegated sides in terms of former Al Hazem duo Toze and Faiz Selemani, and ex-Al Tai winger Bernard Mensah, in addition to flamboyant Iraqi attacker Ibrahim Bayesh, among others.

Get your tickets for Al Wehda v Al Riyadh HERE