RSL set for inaugural Derby Week - but what is it?

Matchweek 9 in the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League is extra special, with the inaugural Derby Week taking place right across the Kingdom.

The new addition to the Saudi Arabian top flight will play out in Jeddah on Thursday, where Al Ittihad host city rivals Al Ahli in the Sea Derby, then continues to the capital on Friday, when Riyadh counterparts Al Nassr and Al Hilal do battle at Al Awwal Park in the Capital Derby.

Derby Week is presented with a sure-to-be-fitting conclusion on Saturday night in Dammam, where Al Ettifaq welcome to their stadium fellow east-coast side Al Qadsiah, in the Eastern Derby,

Across those three 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, Steven Gerrard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Here's just a little on each rivalry to stoke the fire before what is sure 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 Sea Derby - Al Ittihad vs Al Ahli

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.

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, Roberto Firmino, Feras Al Buraikan, Franck Kessie and Ivan Toney on the other, the Sea Derby is not to be missed. To be fair, it never is.

The Capital Derby - Al Nassr vs Al Hilal

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, with Al Nassr their closest challengers.

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 two of the past 10 across all official competitions since last tasting defeat) and in August continued that streak with a 4-1 win in the final of the season-opening Saudi Super Cup.

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

The Eastern Derby - Al Ettifaq vs Al Qadsiah

This season sees the return to the RSL of the Eastern Derby, with Al Qadsiah having made it back to the top flight after a three-year absence.

While technically from different cities – Al Ettifaq from Dammam and Al Qadsiah from Al Khobar - the two neighbour each other on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, both, alongside Dhahran, forming 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.

The last time the teams met in the RSL came during the 2020-21 season, when Al Qadsiah emerged victorious in a 3-1 win at Al Ettifaq. Earlier in the campaign, fortunes were reversed with Al Ettifaq prevailing 2-1 on enemy territory. Fast forward to present day, and the respective sides are managed by European club legends in former Liverpool midfielder Gerrard and ex-Real Madrid star Michel.

Adding additional intrigue this the rekindling of this rivalry, Al Qadsiah experienced a transformative summer, investing heavily for their return to the RSL, bringing in the likes of Aubameyang and Real Madrid captain Nacho. For sure, they appear ready to throw down the gauntlet to Al Ettifaq, managed by Liverpool legend Gerrard, for the title of the best club in the East.