Bottom clubs need a reprieve, Gerrard demands response

An already-exhilarating Matchweek 7 closes on Sunday with another three exciting games, as the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League's bottom three clubs look for some respite, and Steven Gerrard aims to smooth Al Ettifaq's recent bump in the road.

Here’s our matchday preview.

Al Fateh v Al Kholood

Al Fateh Club Stadium, Al Ahsa - KICK-OFF 17:45

The RSL’s bottom club get the action under way on Sunday as they seek for a turnaround from their hugely disappointing start to the season. Al Fateh have lost six of their seven matches, including a King’s Cup exit to second-tier side Al Jabalain.

The run has understandably increased the pressure on manager Jens Gustafsson, who joined the club just as the 2024-25 campaign was kicking off. It’s a quirk of their season that the only victory came against Al Ahli, in Matchweek 2, but an all-round improvement is very much needed.

In Al Kholood, they welcome a side without a win in three games in all competitions, although the RSL debutants could point to the fact that two of those came against champions Al Hilal and high-flying Al Shabab.

Still, that wasn’t enough to save manager Paulo Duarte, who was replaced during the international break by “survival specialist” Noureddine Ben Zekri. The Algerian’s most recent escape act was performed at Al Okhdood last season, although that was having only seven games in charge.

Maybe there’s something in this one that his new team can embrace: Al Fateh have lost their past two RSL matches against newly promoted teams. Can Ben Zekri inspire his new charges to extend that?

Get your tickets for Al Fateh v Al Kholood HERE 

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Al Okhdood v Al Riyadh

Prince Hathloul Bin Abdulaziz Club Stadium, Najran - KICK-OFF 18:20

It’s not been the beginning to the season that Al Okhdood would’ve wanted, with the southern side second from bottom in the RSL. Their record thus far reads one win from seven, with King’s Cup elimination at the hands of Saudi First Division League outfit Al Arabi in there, too.

Therefore, to say it’s been a difficult adaption to Saudi football for new manager Stjepan Tomas would be an understatement. However, the Croatian coach will need some help at both ends of the pitch: Al Okhdood are averaging only a goal every RSL game, while they are conceding nearly twice as many.

Al Riyadh, though, don’t represent the easiest of opponents to flip fortunes. Like Tomas, Sabri Lamouchi is still fresh to management in the Kingdom, but the former France international has ensured his team have lost only twice in his seven matches in the dugout.

Sitting in the top half, Al Riyadh haven’t been the most prolific either, scoring 10 goals in the RSL, and they have conceded just as many as Sunday’s opponents (11). But with Toze and Bernard Mensah, they have players who have been there and done it in the Saudi top flight - and are supplemented by in-form Iraqi Ibrahim Bayesh.

Al Okhdood, meanwhile, have been far from inhospitable hosts in the RSL: they have failed to win their past five there.

Get your tickets for Al Okhdood v Al Riyadh HERE

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Al Ettifaq v Al Orobah

Al Ettifaq Club Stadium, Dammam - KICK-OFF 21:00 

Rounding off Matchweek 7, Al Ettifaq will be determined to get their season back on track following a few frustrating results of late. Steven Gerrard’s men, who began the campaign on fire, have not won in their past three in the RSL, including defeats in their two most recent home matches.

That, of course, is not up to the standards demanded by the Liverpool legend, so expect a reaction at Al Ettifaq Club Stadium. Goals have been the main issue thus far, with the East Coast side netting five in six league outings, with Moussa Dembele certain to want to return to the form that saw him net twice in the opening two rounds (he has three goals altogether).

Sunday rivals Al Orobah have encountered the same problem, with six goals upon their return to the top flight, but the newly promoted team have appeared to find their feet in the competition. They recorded back-to-back wins in Matchweeks 4 and 5 – their only victories this season – while the 3-0 defeat to star-studded Al Nassr last time out can’t be considered a defining blow.

Manager Alvaro Pacheco is clearly still working out his best XI, especially since a number of players arrived late in the summer transfer window. Former Barcelona man, Cristian Tello, looks an astute recruit already – he has two goals in five league matches.

Looking at the stats, Al Ettifaq have not lost three successive RSL matches at home since the 2019-20 season, while Al Orobah have failed to triumph in their past 17 top-tier matches on the road, losing 14. What will give way here?

Get your tickets for Al Ettifaq v Al Orobah HERE