Matchweek 5 of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League continues on Saturday with a bottom-of-the-table clash first up and competition debutants hosting record-breaking champions.
Here’s our preview of the action.
Al Fateh v Al Okhdood
Al Fateh Club Stadium, Al Ahsa - KICK-OFF 18:10
Saturday’s early kick-off pits against one another two of the bottom three in the table, with 16th-placed Al Fateh welcoming 17th-placed Al Okhdood to Al Ahsa.
Unlike their visitors, Al Fateh have registered a win this season, an upset victory against much-fancied Al Ahli in Matchweek 2. However, that has been the only ray of sunshine for Jens Gustafsson’s side: they have lost their other three RSL games, while on Tuesday, they exited the King’s Cup at the last-32 stage at the hands of second-tier outfit Al Jabalain.
Even at this early stage of the campaign, Al Fateh will believe they need a win against an Al Okhdood who are also struggling with a new manager at the helm. Stjepan Tomas lost his opening three matches in the RSL, but in holding star-studded Al Qadsiah to a goalless draw at home in Matchweek 4, it seems perhaps the tide was turning.
Yet Al Okhdood were eliminated from the King’s Cup on Sunday, also by a First Division League club, in Al Arabi when they lost 2-1 in front of their own fans. Last season, Al Okhdood failed to defeat Al Fateh, losing at home and drawing 0-0 away. Could change that on Saturday?
Get your tickets for Al Fateh v Al Okhdood HERE
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Al Orobah v Damac
Al Jouf University Stadium, Sakakah - KICK-OFF 18:45
Having played their first three matches away upon their return to the RSL, newly promoted Al Orobah showed last time out that home comforts can count for a lot.
The 1-0 victory against Al Fateh got Alvaro Pacheco’s first win as manager, and built upon his first point earned the previous matchweek - in the highly entertaining 3-3 draw at RSL debutants Al Kholood.
Sunday’s 4-1 reverse in the King’s Cup at Al Qadsiah, the third of this season’s promoted teams, was a set-back, but both Pacheco and Al Orobah look to have finally found their feet in the top flight.
Damac, meanwhile, are maybe still searching for theirs. Granted, they already have a win this season – a 3-1 success at home to Al Kholood in matchweek 3 – but other than that they’ve lost three in the RSL and, on Wednesday, slipped out of the King’s Cup with a 2-0 loss at second-tier club Al Najma.
Cosmin Contra is vastly experienced, though, and you can bet the Romanian is working overtime to get his team, so impressive early on last season, properly motoring. This marks the first RSL encounter between the two teams, while Damac will need to arrest a top-flight run of no away wins in five.
Get your tickets for Al Orobah v Damac HERE
Damac with the three points at home! 🥳#RoshnSaudiLeague #ForTheFans pic.twitter.com/kEHwEUAMRh
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) September 13, 2024
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Al Kholood v Al Hilal
King Abdullah Sport City, Buraidah - KICK-OFF 21:00
No doubt buoyed by their history-making first RSL victory last time out, Al Kholood have been given a dose of reality by taking on record-breaking champions Al Hilal in the very next round.
However, the top-flight first-timers have been showing signs of getting to grips with the competition, following up their opening two defeats with that 3-3 draw with Al Orobah and then the fantastic 1-0 away win at Al Wehda. Summer recruit Alex Collado has been inspired: his winner in Mecca in Matchweek 4 continued a streak of goals in three successive games.
The goal that sealed Al Kholood's first-ever RSL win! 🎯#WEHKHO | #SaudiNationalDay | #RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/XkY90PhzS5
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) September 19, 2024
Saying that, they host an Al Hilal unbeaten not only this season, but in 40 RSL matches – dating back to May 2023. And, to highlight their current bloom, the title-holders saw off Al Ittihad 3-1 in the Saudi Clasico on Saturday to jump above their Jeddah rivals to the top of the table.
If Collado is – rightfully – pleased with his input this season, then how must Aleksandar Mitrovic feel? Rather incredibly, the Serbian striker has scored twice in every RSL round this term, with eight goals in four matches.
On Saturday, Mitrovic will aim to equal the record for finding the net in the opening five rounds of a RSL season, set by Mohammed Al Sahlawi with Al Nassr in 2014-2015.
Get your tickets for Al Kholood v Al Hilal HERE
