High-flyers Al Riyadh and Al Ittihad meet, Donis returns to Al Wehda

Matchweek 8 whirrs into action on Thursday with two of the top four going head-to-head in the capital and a crunch clash between sides separated by a solitary point just above the drop zone.

Here’s our matchday preview.

Al Orobah v Al Shabab

Al Jouf University Stadium, Sakakah - KICK-OFF 18:15

Promoted side Al Orobah are riding the crest of a wave following a brilliant run of results in which they picked up three wins from their past four league outings. Sunday’s superb 3-2 victory at Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq represented their first triumph away from home this season and sets them up nicely for Matchweek 8.

It is there that Al Orobah will attempt to register a third straight league win at Al Jouf University Stadium, and for sure they will be hoping Cristian Tello, the two-goal hero last week, continues his form.

Al Shabab, meanwhile, have come unstuck a little in recent rounds, losing their past two in the league after registering five wins on the bounce across all competitions. However, they were desperately unlucky in the 2-1 defeat to Al Nassr last Friday, when Cristiano Ronaldo converted a 97th-minute penalty and then home captain Abderrazak Hamdallah placed his onto the post.

Can the striker redeem himself by helping prevent Al Orobah from winning a third successive win in the RSL for the first time in their history?

Get your tickets for Al Orobah v Al Shabab HERE 

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Al Riyadh v Al Ittihad

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

Not that perhaps many would’ve expected it, but this fixture pits against one another the fourth-placed side in the RSL and the team currently in second. That’s right, Al Riyadh have enjoyed an excellent start to the season, winning five and drawing one of their eight matches across all competitions.

Sabri Lamouchi’s side came into this clash on the back on consecutive league victories, taking the notable scalp of Al Qadsiah earlier this month in Matchweek 6. Iraqi Ibrahim Bayesh has been their star of the campaign: he has three goals and three Match of the Match awards from seven appearances.

In Al Ittihad, though, they face one of the toughest tests in the RSL. Laurent Blanc’s men are flying at the moment, with Saturday’s 3-1 victory at home to Al Qadsiah making it seven wins from eight matches this term.

With six of those coming in the league, Ittihad sit three points behind leaders Al Hilal, with captain Karim Benzema in particular thriving. The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner’s eight RSL goals this term is second only to Al Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Benzema has scored in his past six league matches - his longest scoring streak in league competition since his seven-game streak for Real Madrid in La Liga in 2021. Al Riyadh also represent the team against which he netted his debut RSL goal.

Get your tickets for Al Riyadh v Al Ittihad HERE

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Al Wehda v Al Khaleej

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

Thursday’s round of fixtures concludes in the holy city, where Georgios Donis returns to his former club in dire need of a lift. The Greek manager guided Al Wehda to 13th last season, but has lost five of eight matches since taking charge of Al Khaleej.

At 14th in the standings, Al Wehda lie one point and one place below their upcoming opponents and have not won in their past five top-flight games. At least back-to-back draws means they go into this encounter with something to build on.

For their part, Al Khaleej have won as recently as Matchweek 6, even if Friday’s 3-0 home reverse to Al Ahli extinguished any momentum.

Something will most likely have to give the longer this one plays out: Al Wehda have conceded the most second-half goals in the league this season (13), while Al Khaleej have scored the fewest in that half, with 1.

Get your tickets for Al Wehda v Al Khaleej HERE