With the second iteration of Derby Week about to light up the Roshn Saudi League, there are a number of intriguing plotlines and potential match-winners to cast your eye over.
Here, we pick out some of the standout stats that frame each of the three matches that highlight RSL Matchweek 26.
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The Capital Derby: Al Hilal vs Al Nassr, Friday 9pm
- Al Hilal (26) and Al Nassr (22) have scored the most goals in the RSL this season from set-pieces but also conceded the fewest (Al Nassr 4, Al Hilal 8). Five of Al Hilal's past eight goals against Al Nassr have come from set-pieces, while eight of Al Nassr's past nine goals against Al Hilal have come from open play.
- Al Hilal have spent the most time in the RSL this season leading in matches (1358:39), while Al Nassr have spent the least time trailing (241:58). Al Hilal have conceded 390 goals in their RSL history, with only two scored in the first minute – both by Al Nassr.
Otavio struck early in May last year and Anderson Talisca did so again last November. Indeed, those are the past two goals Al Nassr have scored against Al Hilal.
- Jorge Jesus has won only one of his four RSL matches against Al Nassr (three draws), the lowest win rate against any team he has faced at least four times in the competition, at 25 percent. Al Nassr are the only team the reigning RSL Manager of the Season has drawn three matches against.
- Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has contributed to 48 goals in 85 matches for Al Hilal in all competitions (27 goals and 21 assists), with 23% of his contributions coming in Riyadh derbies (11 – six goals and five assists).
Al Nassr are the second team he has contributed the most against (5 – three goals and two assists) after Al Ittihad (6 – one goal and five assists).
- Al Hilal are one of two teams Cristiano Ronaldo has not scored against in the RSL (along with Al Batin). The Al Nassr captain has played four matches against his Riyadh rivals and only one against Al Batin, taking 14 shots in three matches against Al Hilal, with only three on target.
Ronaldo has scored 14 goals in 17 matches against the top-five teams in the competition.
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The Eastern Derby: Al Qadsiah vs Al Ettifaq, Saturday 5.05pm
- Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq have faced each other 15 times in the RSL, with Al Qadsiah winning five matches and Al Ettifaq seven 7. After winning the first-round clash in November, Al Qadsiah are aiming to win both the season’s Eastern Derbies the first time in their history.
- Al Ettifaq (11) and Al Qadsiah (10) have earned the most points in the RSL this season from goals in the last 15 minutes. Al Ettifaq have scored the highest percentage of goals in this period (44%), tied with Al Riyadh, while 32% of Al Qadsiah's goals have come in this period (4th in the competition).
- Since Saad Al Shehri took over as Al Ettifaq manager, the duo of Georginio Wijnaldum and Vitinho have contributed to 13 goals (seven goals and six assists), representing 68% of the team's goals during this period.
- Al Qadsiah midfielder Cameron Puertas has conceded the most fouls in the RSL this season (58) but received the fewest yellow cards (one) among players with at least 25 fouls. Puertas became the first player to reach 100 fouls all-round in the competition this season (58 conceded, 42 won).
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The Sea Derby: Al Ahli vs Al Ittihad, Saturday 9pm
- Karim Benzema has scored four goals in his past eight derbies in all competitions with Al Ittihad and Real Madrid but hasn’t scored in his past three. The last time the Al Ittihad captain had a longer streak without scoring in derbies was for Real Madrid between February 2016 and April 2018 (eight matches).
Benzema has played two RSL matches against Al Ahli, registering seven shots (two on target, with 1.1 expected goals).
- Riyad Mahrez has contributed to 26 goals in all competitions this season (13 goals and 13 assists), one more than last season (12 goals and 13 assists). The last player to contribute more goals for Al Ahli in a single season was Omar Al Somah, who scored 29 goals in the 2019-2020 season in all competitions.
- Al Ahli have scored their 48 RSL goals this season through 15 players - more than any other team. They have benefited from three own goals, the most in a single season in the competition (tied with 2016-2017 and 2023-2024).
- The team that takes the lead in this fixture has not lost in the past 10 RSL encounters between the teams (W8 D1), with the last defeat being Al Ittihad in November 2018 (3-1).
Al Ittihad have not lost in all 17 matches in which they scored first this season (W15 D2), but Al Ahli have opened the scoring the joint-most in the RSL this season (18 games, along Al Hilal and Al Nassr).
- Only against Al Hilal (17) have Al Ittihad lost more matches in the RSL than against Al Ahli (13, tied with Al Nassr). Among all teams they have faced 20-plus times in the competition, they have scored the fewest goals against Al Ahli (36).
Meanwhile, Al Ahli have recorded the most wins against Al Ittihad among the top five teams in the Pro League and conceded the fewest goals in these encounters.
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