Derby Week is back! But what is it?

Matchweek 26 in the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League is extra special, with the second iteration of Derby Week taking place right across the Kingdom.

A new addition to the Saudi Arabian top flight this season, it will play out in Riyadh on April 4, where Riyadh counterparts Al Hilal and Al Nassr do battle at Kingdom Arena in the Capital Derby.

The following day, sees two momentous clashes not long from each other, when Al Qadsiah welcome to their stadium fellow east-coast side Al Ettifaq, in the Eastern Derby.

Meanwhile, across the Kingdom, Al Ahli host city rivals - and current RSL leaders - Al Ittihad in the Sea Derby.

Across those couple of days, where both points and bragging rights will be up for grabs, you’ll witness some of the biggest and brightest stars the RSL has to offer, including Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Salem Al Dawsari, Georginio Wijnaldum and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Here's just a little on each rivalry to stoke the fire before what promises to be a white-hot history-making week in the RSL.

For more Derby Week content visit our dedicated hub, with star interviews, features, videos and more HERE

The Capital Derby - Al Hilal vs Al Nassr

This one needs little introduction.

Pitting against one another two of Saudi Arabia’s most decorated clubs, both based in Riyadh, the Capital Derby is never short on entertainment or drama, as witnessed last season in two see-sawing contests that showcased the very best of the RSL.

In the end, Al Hilal won both and were ultimately crowned champions in a record-braking campaign, with Al Nassr finishing runners-up.

A rivalry dating back decades, it’s one of the preeminent fixtures of any RSL season, with the pride extracted from victory worth almost as much as the three points.

Al Hilal have dominated the fixture in recent seasons - they have won eight and drawn three of the past 11 across all official competitions since last tasting defeat - with this term's first Capital Derby ending 1-1.

Can Al Nassr captain Ronaldo finally get one over his great adversary when the two teams meet on April 4? Or will Al Hilal counterpart Salem Al Dawsari continue to shine as he has done for the current RSL leaders this season?

The Sea Derby - Al Ahli vs Al Ittihad

There are few greater sights in the RSL than a sold-out King Abdullah Sports City Stadium full to the brim with fans decked out in either black and yellow or green and white.

Taking in a Sea Derby is a visceral sensory experience: the ear-splitting sound of the crowd, the smell of the flares, and the visual artistry of the incredible tifos from both sets of fans. It’s an experience to match anything from around the world.

Al Ittihad and Al Ahli share a rivalry dating back to 1938, when they played their first fixture against one another. It’s a clash that has gripped the city ever since, the most recent finishing 1-0 to Al Ittihad back in October.

With two admired tacticians in Al Ittihad’s Laurent Blanc and Al Ahli’s Matthias Jaissle, and plenty of talent including Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho and Moussa Diaby on the Al Ittihad side, and Mahrez, Feras Al Buraikan, Franck Kessie and Ivan Toney on the other, the Sea Derby is not to be missed.

To be fair, it never misses on delivering.

The Eastern Derby - Al Qadsiah vs Al Ettifaq

This season saw the reestablishment in the RSL of the Eastern Derby, with Al Qadsiah making it back to the top flight after a three-year absence - and then shining upon their return.

While technically from different cities - Al Qadsiah from Al Khobar and Al Ettifaq from Dammam - the two neighbour each other on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. Both, alongside Dhahran, form a tri-city metropolis in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern province.

This derby is strategically located for residents in neighbouring GCC countries, with the likes of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates all within a few hours' drive.

Going head-to-head in the RSL for the first time since the 2020-21 season, the Matchweek 9 encounter concluded with Al Qadsiah on top, the away side prevailing 2-0 at EGO Stadium in Dammam.

Adding additional intrigue to the rekindling of this rivalry, Al Qadsiah experienced a transformative summer in 2024, investing heavily for their return to the RSL, bringing in the likes of Aubameyang and Real Madrid captain Nacho. They are managed by another Real legend, in Michel.

On the other side, Al Ettifaq are now coached by decorated Saudi Saad Al Shehri, who replaced in the dugout Steven Gerrard. Captained by former Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum, the club are turning around their season in a bid to finish as high as possible.

Derby bragging rights, though, form their focus again when the RSL resumes in the first week in April.