Al Okhdood host surging Al Shabab, Al Nassr face Al Qadsiah test

It’s time to rejoice, because the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League resumes on Friday with Matchweek 11, where teams towards the bottom entertain those with lofty ambitions at the other end of the table, while a major clash takes place in the capital.

Here’s our matchday preview.

Al Fayha v Al Ahli

King Abdullah Sport City, Buraidah - KICK-OFF 17:50

After what’s felt an eternity, the RSL kicks back into action with two teams targeting hefty moves up the standings, albeit from varying positions. Hosts Al Fayha currently occupy 16th place and are thus in the drop zone, while Al Ahli, third last season, sit eighth.

Al Fayha, though, are winless in their past five league matches, with Christos Kontis’ side failing to make the most of their only victory thus far this RSL campaign, in Matchweek 5. Fashion Sakala and Renzo Lopez have been their brightest contributors, with the forward duo chipping in with five goals between them.

Still, Al Fayha have scored the second fewest goals this season, with only seven in 10 league matches.

The visit, then, of star-studded Al Ahli is probably not what they're wishing for. Mind you, Matthias Jaissle’s men have been inconsistent in the RSL, with only two wins in their past six. However, they did enter the two-week pause on the back of a 2-0 home victory against Al Raed and have been flawless in the AFC Asian Champions League Elite, with four wins from four.

Still, Jaissle will be expecting more from a frontline that includes summer signing Ivan Toney, 2023-24 RSL assist king Riyad Mahrez, Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino and Saudi Arabia international Feras Al Buraikan. That quartet has contributed to seven league goals in all.

Get your tickets for Al Fayha v Al Ahli HERE 

----

Al Okhdood v Al Shabab

Prince Hathloul Bin Abdulaziz Sport City Stadium, Najran - KICK-OFF 18:05

Friday’s middle match sees another side perhaps looking over their shoulder entertain a team who also boast top-four aspirations, as Al Okhdood in 14th welcome fourth-placed Al Shabab.

The hosts sit one point above relegation having won once in their past five RSL matches, even if that was the comprehensive 4-0 home triumph against Al Orobah two matchweeks ago. Yet the recent run should not be as disheartening as results suggest; Stjepan Tomas’ side lost narrowly at home to second-placed Al Ittihad at the beginning of last month, while they also held Al Ahli to a 1-1 draw in Jeddah.

In Al Shabab, however, they face a team who have reeled off four wins from their past four matches across all competitions, and nine in their most recent 11 outings. Back-to-back RSL victories against Al Wehda and Al Kholood have kept them on Al Nassr’s coattails in third, where only a point separates the Riyadh rivals.

And it just so happens that a familiar face has found his scoring torch: RSL legend Abderrazak Hamdallah netted three goals in those two recent wins, as the Moroccan closes in on Omar Al Somah’s all-time league scoring record.

Get your tickets for Al Okhdood v Al Shabab HERE

---

Al Nassr v Al Qadsiah

Al Awwal Park, Riyadh - KICK-OFF 20:00 

What a way to bring the RSL’s return to a close on Friday, when third takes on fifth in what's sure to be a thriller in the capital. As the better placed, and the home side, Al Nassr will be determined to secure a victory to maintain their turnaround since Stefano Pioli's appointment – and hunt down Al Ittihad and Al Hilal above them.

Runners-up last season, the Riyadh giants have recovered from an early wobble, with Pioli guiding his new side to five league wins in seven. With the other two matches ending in a draw, including the 1-1 against Al Hilal in the Capital Derby, Al Nassr remain unbeaten in the top flight this campaign.

As always, Cristiano Ronaldo represents their lead man, both as captain and joint-top scorer in the league for the club. The 2023-24 RSL golden boot winner sits on six goals alongside Brazil teammate Anderson Talisca.

As it is, the division’s third-best attack (21 goals) will this week go up against the competition’s second-most miserly defence. Al Qadsiah have conceded only seven times upon their return to the RSL, with summer signing – and Belgium No.1, no less – Koen Casteels keeping five clean sheets thus far.

Also, Al Qadsiah come into Friday’s test having won their past three in the league, including that huge 2-0 victory in the Eastern Derby away to near rivals Al Ettifaq in Matchweek 9. Their attack, too, is not to be sniffed at. Far from it. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Julian Quinones have each scored four goals in their debut seasons, with all of the former’s haul coming in the past six matchweeks.

Get your tickets for Al Nassr v Al Qadsiah HERE