Assessing Al Qadsiah: how purposeful RSL new boys are shaping up

Coming into the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League, there was considerable interest surrounding newly promoted Al Qadsiah – and rightly so.

The Al Khobar side, Saudi First Division League champions last term, were obviously determined to mark their return to the top flight for the first time in four years, and thus invested heavily in the squad to prepare for the challenge. In came the likes of recent Real Madrid captain Nacho, former Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Belgium No.1 Koen Casteels and a wealth of exciting foreign recruits and local players.

The new signings have helped Al Qadsiah to sixth in the table after six rounds, with three wins. However, Michel's men have recorded only one of those victories in their past four RSL matches.

So, ahead of the team’s greatest challenge thus far this season - Saturday’s trip to second-placed Al Ittihad – we assess Al Qadsiah’s campaign through the opening two months.

Buttressing the defence

To be fair, this hasn’t been an issue. With three goals conceded, Al Qadsiah possess the joint-best defensive record in the 2024-25 RSL, a collective effort that’s been built on solid foundations offered by vast experience in Casteels and Nacho. Casteels, who ranks second in save percentage - 84.2% of 16 shots faces - was named the RSL Goalkeeper of the Month for September.

In Qassem Lajami and Jehad Thirki, manager Michel has two reliable central partners for Nacho, while another summer addition, former Getafe full-back Gaston Alvarez, has settled well on the left side of the backline. The recent switch, though, from four at the back to five, has not been an instant success.

Saying that, through the opening six matchweeks, Al Qadsiah are second in Expected Goals Against, with 5.1. That’s a positive differential of minus 2.1.

Sharpening the attack

Looking at the other end of the pitch, Al Qadsiah have scored the second-fewest goals of any team in the top half. In fact, that they have found the net only six times means their matches have seen nine goals in total – the fewest of any side in the league.

Considering the firepower at the club, it’s somewhat hard to fathom. The aforementioned Aubameyang was superb in Ligue 1 last term, even at age 34, scoring 17 goals in 34 top-flight appearances. Yet the Gabon international has one goal in five RSL games: a winning penalty against Al Ahli in Matchweek 5.

Meanwhile, fellow new boy Julian Quinones got off to a flier, scoring a brace on debut in the opening round, but the Mexico international has since failed to add to his tally, getting sent-off then missing the next match through suspension. One bright spark has been Abdulaziz Al Othman, the 20-year-old Saudi who has two goals from the bench.

It’s interesting, also, that the entire midfield has chipped in with a solitary goal – that arrived via the boot of Saudi Turki Al Ammar in Matchweek 2. Saying that, Al Qadsiah rank seventh for Expected Goals, with 8.5, so aren’t far off their league position.

Finding blend in engine room

Speaking of midfield, and as the statistics suggest, Al Qadsiah haven’t been at their creative best this term. Saudi pair Al Ammar and Mohammed Abu Al Shamat have created their most chances, with five apiece, although they each lie joint-14th for players across the division. Of clubs in the top half, only Al Ettifaq don’t have a player offering more.

Of course, any successful side possesses the right balance in the middle of the park, with plenty of industry to go with the invention. No doubt, the summer acquisition of tenacious Uruguayan international Nahitan Nandez was designed to provide the base for Al Qadsiah to let the attack work their magic.

Nandez leads the way for the team in passes in the opposition half, conveying his influence, yet the 182 total is someway down the league’s overall rankings, at 14th. And, in that, the 74.7% success rate comes in at the second lowest of the top 20 players. Also, Michel’s switch in formation could offer another reason as to why the midfield has yet to truly fire.

Getting tactics spot on

Having begun the season with back-to-back wins deploying a 4-2-3-1, as fortunes flipped, Michel has turned to a 5-3-2 for the past two matchweeks – with Al Qadsiah losing both games.

The tweak has meant Nandez has started those games predominantly on the right side of the backline, subsequently placing more pressure on Ezequiel Fernandez to control midfield. Hugely talented, the Argentine is still only 22 and debuting in Saudi football, so it asks a lot for the former Boca Juniors man to win the battle in the middle.

Another stat that implies Al Qadsiah are still getting used to what is expected of them – an understandable developmental in lieu of the significant squad turnover – is that they have conceded the joint-most fouls in the RSL this season, at 73. They have received the joint-third most yellow cards, with 14, while they are one of six sides who have had a player sent off for a straight red (Quinones at Al Okhdood, Matchweek 4).