Al Okhdood aim for first points, Al Wehda eye rapid rebound

Matchweek 4 of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi league swings into gear on Thursday, with all three promoted sides in action – including a much-anticipated home debut for one.

Here’s the first of our matchweek previews.

Al Okhdood v Al Qadsiah

Prince Hathloul Sports City, Najran - KICK-OFF 18:40 

As one of two teams yet to register a point this season, Al Okhdood will be intent on getting off the mark at home to an Al Qadsiah side who last time out suffered their first defeat of the campaign.

To be fair, the hosts have not been handed the easiest of starts, losing 3-0 to Al Hilal in Matchweek 1 before suffering a 1-0 defeat at Al Ettifaq and a 3-1 reverse at Damac. New manager Stjepan Tomas will hope recent signings can push the team to a welcome result, with forwards Ibrahima Kone and Christian Bassogog now having a RSL appearance under their respective belts.

In Al Qadsiah, however, the challenges keep coming. Last season’s First Division League champions backed up their brilliant summer transfer business with two opening wins, although they were perhaps brought back down to Earth last time out, in the 1-0 home defeat to Al Shabab.

For sure, Michel will be looking for an immediate response from his team, who are captained by the vastly experienced Nacho and boast in attack the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Julian Quinones. Aubameyang is out to break his RSL duck.

Although they have met previously in the second tier, this marks the first clash between the two clubs in the RSL. Who, then, will come out on top?

Get your tickets for Al Okhdood v Al Qadsiah HERE 

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Al Orobah v Al Fateh

Al Jouf University Stadium, Sakakah - KICK-OFF 18:55 

At last, and although it’s only Matchweek 4, new boys Al Orobah will play a top-flight game in front of their own fans. It so happens that they also come into the match on the back of securing a first point of the season, in the 3-3 draw at fellow promoted side Al Kholood.

Alvaro Pacheco’s men, though, will feel aggrieved it wasn’t a victory on Sunday, when they led until the 89th minute only to concede through Myziane Maolida’s own goal. At least new signings Jean Michael Seri and Johann Berg Gudmundsson got off the mark, while there was a cameo for debutant striker Brad Young, too.

Al Fateh, meanwhile, have had an up-and-down start to the campaign. The Al Ahsa side lost 3-0 at Al Qadsiah in Matchweek 1 before clinching a superb 1-0 victory against the much-fancied Al Ahli.

However, a 2-1 defeat at home to Al Ettifaq set Al Fateh back again, as Jens Gustafsson bids to build some consistency with his new club. Goals have been hard to come by, with Cape Verde frontman Djaniny scoring both thus far this season, so improvement is required there.

Perhaps worryingly, Al Fateh haven’t won in their past six away matches, losing five. Can that streak snap here?

Get your tickets for Al Orobah v Al Fateh HERE

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Al Wehda v Al Kholood

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

Thursday’s late kick-off sees an Al Wehda side probably still smarting from Sunday’s 7-1 defeat in “The Old Derby”. The heavy loss to Al Ittihad marked their first reverse of the season, and you can be sure Josef Zinnbauer and his players will do everything in their power to atone.

In Odion Ighalo, Youssef Amyn and Craig Goodwin, Al Wehda certainly have the firepower: all three have already netted this campaign. With four points from their opening three fixtures, the Mecca club aren’t doing too badly, even if they’ll want to consign Matchweek 3 to distant memory.

Yet Al Kholood won’t make for accommodating guests at King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium. Sampling the RSL for the first time in their history, they pushed a star-studded Al Ittihad all the way at home in Matchweek 1 before losing to an injury-time goal.

Defeat next time out at a heavily remodelled Al Riyadh – they lost 3-1 – was not the bounce back manager Paulo Duarte craved, but his players displayed significant fortitude on Sunday to snatch that draw with Al Orobah.

For Al Wehda, the portents are positive: they have lost only once in their past seven matches against newly promoted teams, compared to one win in their previous nine.

Get your tickets for Al Wehda v Al Kholood HERE