Al Hilal and Al Ettifaq aim to keep winning, Al Wehda eye home comforts

The second day of fixtures in Matchweek 2 takes place on Wednesday, with the current Roshn Saudi League champions in action and four of the six clubs involved seeking a first win of 2024-25.

Al Ettifaq v Al Okhdood

Al Ettifaq Club Stadium, Dammam - KICK-OFF 18:45 

Steven Gerrard would have delighted in his team’s dramatic opening-day victory at Al Shabab. The visitors departed Riyadh for Dammam with all three points thanks to Moussa Dembele’s brilliant 76th-minute strike from range.

Of the other positives, there was an impressive debut in goal for summer signing Marek Rodak, while Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Seko Fofana showed the sort of energy that convinced Al Ettifaq to renew his loan deal from Al Nassr.

The home team will be wary, however, of an Al Okhdood side who failed to give new manager Stjepan Tomas much to cheer during his first taste of the RSL although, given on Saturday they were hosting reigning champions Al Hilal who were unbeaten in 36 matches in the league, he will appreciate better days are to come.

That could begin on Wednesday, with Eid Al Muwallad, Saviour Godwin and Juan Pedroza a more-than-capable midfield to stymie Al Ettifaq, while the hope will be that summer recruit Knowledge Musona can come into the side - and cause some danger from set-pieces.

Get your tickets for Al Ettifaq v Al Okhdood HERE 

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Al Hilal v Damac

Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh - KICK-OFF 21:00 

The RSL holders picked up in the new campaign where they left off the last, with the comprehensive 3-0 win sealed with an expertly dominant first half in Najran. It bodes well for Al Hilal - but not for the rest of the division - that Aleksandar Mitrovic made his intentions clear regarding the golden boot; having missed out last year to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Serb notched a brace to burst out of the blocks the race for the 2024-25 RSL’s top-scorer award.

Jorge Jesus’ side now have dropped points in only three games in the competition since they last sampled defeat at the tail end of the 2022-23 season, even if they will have to make do without full-back Saud Abdulhamid, who has made a landmark move to Italy’s AS Roma.

If Damac are in need of some optimism, they should remember they were one of the three teams to take points off Al Hilal in 2023-24, albeit the 1-1 draw did play out at home. Saying that, it took an injury-time winner from Michael to snatch Al Hilal victory in the corresponding fixture in Riyadh. The Khamis Mushait based side will be buoyed with the addition of firepower in the form of former Al Shabab forward Habib Diallo.

Also, Damac will be looking for an immediate response following an agonising defeat in Matchweek 1: they went down 1-0 at home to Al Khaleej courtesy of a first-half own goal from defender Dhari Al Anazi.

Can manager Cosmin Contra rally the troops for the champions?

Get your tickets for Al Hilal v Damac HERE

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Al Wehda v Al Orobah

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

A second successive home match provides Al Wehda the opportunity to make up for dropping points on Matchweek 1. Last Thursday, they twice thought they’d done enough to win their season opener with Al Riyadh, only for the visitors to make it 2-2 five minutes from time and then 3-3 in the 97th minute.

Although it denied new manager Josef Zinnbauer a victory on RSL debut, he will have been pleased with the start made by Craig Goodwin. The Australian struck twice, meaning he has already a third of the goals he managed last season, and assisted the other – he should therefore be important again on Wednesday.

The hosts welcome Al Orobah, the newly promoted club who kicked off their return to the RSL with defeat at Al Ahli. Alvaro Pacheco would have been hoping for an easier introduction to the Saudi Arabian top flight, but the Portuguese tactician will also be aware the 2-0 loss was no embarrassment.

The Sakakah-based outfit have bolstered their squad significantly, with Croat midfielder Karlo Muhar arriving from Romania’s CFR Cluj, Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Boateng from Rio Ave of Portugal, and Icelandic winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson from England’s Burnley. They’ve also added RSL experience in former Al Fateh forward Cristian Tello.

Al Wehda appear likely to face a tougher test than perhaps they initially anticipated.

Get your tickets for Al Wehda v Al Orobah HERE