Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens on Friday evening as Damac hosts Al-Shabab at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha in a crucial and potentially explosive match. This encounter, part of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, is of paramount importance to both teams, who are struggling in the standings and desperately need the three points to escape the relegation zone.

The struggle to escape the specter of landing

Both teams enter the match with the motto "No to an eleventh defeat," as they both experience similar inconsistent results. Damac, playing at home, hopes to capitalize on the significant morale boost gained in the last round, having broken a nine-match winless streak with a valuable victory against Al-Taawoun. The "Knights of the South" aim for their second consecutive win to secure their position in the mid-table, relying on their full squad and the readiness of their key players.

The history of the encounters favors Al-Ahly

In terms of historical statistics in the Saudi Professional League, Al-Shabab clearly holds the advantage. The two sides have met 13 times previously, with Al-Shabab dominating, winning 8 matches, while Damac managed only one victory, and 4 ended in a draw. Furthermore, Al-Shabab's attack is clearly superior, having scored 22 goals against Damac, compared to 12 goals scored by the southern team's attack.

The two teams' positions in the standings

Damac enters the match in 15th place with 15 points, accumulated from two wins and nine draws, while suffering defeat in 10 matches. Al-Shabab's situation isn't much better, as they sit in 14th place with 19 points, having secured four wins, seven draws, and 10 losses – a position unbecoming of the Riyadh-based club's history and prestige.

A tough test for Ben Zekri's battalion

This match will be a true test for experienced Algerian coach Noureddine Benzekri, the manager of Al-Shabab, who took over to rescue the team. Despite a relative improvement in results at the beginning, the team has recently returned to a losing streak, suffering a heavy defeat against Al-Kholoud and then a crushing loss in the derby against Al-Ahli. Benzekri is relying on his extensive experience in Saudi football and his familiarity with Damac FC (which he previously coached, achieving success in avoiding relegation) to overcome this difficult hurdle.

Star Battalion and Lethal Weapons

Both teams boast impressive rosters capable of making a difference. Damac relies on the solidity of its Brazilian goalkeeper, Kiwin Silva, the experience of Algerian defender Abdelkader Bedrane, the dynamism of Guinean Morlaye Sylla, in addition to Argentinian Valentin Vada, Moroccan Jamal Harkas, Congolese Jonathan Okita, Syrian Mohammed Al-Salakhdi, and Ivorian Yakou Meite.

In contrast, Al-Shabab enters the match boasting a star-studded lineup, including veteran Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe, Belgian Yannick Carrasco, Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, Frenchman Yacine Adli, Englishman Josh Brownhill, Brazilian Carlos Junior, and Jordanian talent Ali Al-Azaizeh. Ultimately, the pitch will determine who can best utilize these players to secure all three points.

Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens on Friday evening as Al-Taawoun hosts Al-Fayha at their home ground in Buraidah in a highly anticipated match. This encounter, part of the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League, carries added significance as the competition intensifies in the final stages of the season, with both teams desperately needing the three points to improve their positions in the standings.

The context of the competition and the development of the Roshan League

This encounter comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is witnessing unprecedented qualitative development, with every match now representing a high level of tactical and physical challenge thanks to the influx of world-class players. There are no longer any easy matches in the league, as mid-table and lower-ranked teams strive to close the gap with the leading sides. The Al-Taawoun vs. Al-Fayha match exemplifies this competition, with the former aiming to solidify its place among the elite, while the latter fights to prove its worthiness of remaining in the safe zone, adding a level of intensity to the encounter that transcends the mere three points at stake.

Cooperation: The ambition to restore balance

Al-Taawoun, nicknamed "The Sugar of Qassim," enters the match with one goal in mind: to rediscover their winning form after a three-match winless streak. This sudden slump has cost the team eight valuable points, managing only one point out of a possible nine, thus significantly diminishing their chances of directly competing for a top-four finish.

Al-Taawoun currently sits fifth in the league table with 39 points, accumulated from 12 wins and three draws, while suffering six defeats. The home side will be looking to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to get back on track and maintain their hopes of securing a spot in next season's Asian Champions League.

Al-Fayhaa... The Search for Stability

In contrast, Al-Fayha will be a formidable opponent, currently experiencing inconsistent results despite delivering strong performances in several high-profile matches. The orange-clad team hopes to break their recent run of fluctuating form, having alternated wins and losses in their last four games, and will be aiming for a positive result to bolster their points tally.

Al-Fayha currently sits in twelfth place with 23 points, having secured 6 wins, 5 draws, and 10 losses. This match presents a golden opportunity for the team to distance themselves further from the relegation zone and solidify their position in the comfortable mid-table, especially since the points gap with the bottom teams is not significant enough to guarantee their safety.

Historical dominance and artistic weapons

Historically, Al-Taawoun holds a clear advantage over Al-Fayha, having faced them 15 times previously in the Saudi Professional League. Al-Taawoun has dominated, winning seven matches, while Al-Fayha has only managed one victory, with seven other encounters ending in a draw. Furthermore, Al-Taawoun's attack boasts a superior record, having scored 24 goals against Al-Fayha, compared to 11 goals conceded.

On a technical level, both teams boast a wealth of talented players capable of making a difference at any moment. Al-Taawoun relies on its Colombian striker Roger Martinez, Brazilian defender Gerotto, Dutch playmaker Achraf El Mahdaoui, and Frenchman Angelo Fulgini. Meanwhile, Al-Fayha features the dangerous Zambian striker Fashion Sakala with his blistering pace, experienced English defender Chris Smalling, creative Algerian playmaker Yacine Benzia, and Panamanian goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, promising a high-level tactical battle between the two coaches.

The title "giant killer" is no longer just a passing description for the Norwegian team Bodø/Glimt; it has become a tangible reality imposing itself on the European football map. Based north of the Arctic Circle, the team is on the verge of achieving one of the biggest upsets in the history of the UEFA Champions League, having secured a place in the round of 16 with a resounding and well-deserved 3-1 victory over Italian giants Inter Milan in the first leg of the play-off round.

Arctic Epic: More Than Just a Win

This victory cannot be viewed in isolation from the club's historical and geographical context. Bodø/Glimt represents a unique model of successful sports management in a harsh climatic environment. The team plays at the Aspmir Stadium, whose pitch requires snow removal just hours before matches, and where the players' breath appears as thick vapor, reflecting both the cold weather and the intensity of the competition. This stadium has become an impregnable fortress where even the strongest European teams have fallen, reinforcing the club's position as a powerful representative of Scandinavian football, which is beginning to regain its continental prominence.

The Norwegian club, which was obscure until recently, has achieved shocking results that have shaken the foundations of the Old Continent, most notably its 3-1 victory over Manchester City of England, and its 2-1 defeat of Atletico Madrid of Spain in the unified group stage, in which it finished 23rd. Its surprises did not stop there, but included remarkable draws against Borussia Dortmund of Germany and Tottenham of England, which confirms that the team's rise is not a coincidence but rather the result of accumulated technical and administrative work.

Artistic stability: the secret to the magic formula

Bodø/Glimt employs a wise footballing policy that many major clubs lack: remarkable technical stability. The team has retained its coach, Ketil Knutsen, since 2018, fostering a high level of tactical cohesion despite the absence of big-name international players. This cohesion was evident in their match against Inter Milan, where the Norwegian side dominated both tactically and physically, benefiting from the return of some of their former players, such as winger Jens-Peter Hauge and midfielder Patrick Berg, in addition to the impressive form of Danish striker Kasper Hauge, who scored his fourth goal in his last three league matches.

The San Siro challenge and future aspirations

Despite a comfortable first-leg victory, coach Knutsen and his players know that the return leg at Milan's historic San Siro stadium will be no walk in the park. This iconic venue stands as the final hurdle between the team and their dream of reaching the round of 16. If they succeed, they could find themselves facing either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in a rematch. However, the team seems well-prepared to challenge Cristian Chivu's side, especially since Bodø/Glimt is fully focused on the continental competition during the domestic league's off-season, with the new season not starting until mid-March 2026.

These results have important economic and sporting dimensions for the club. After earning around 20 million euros from reaching the Europa League semi-finals last season, the club is looking to boost its coffers with more financial returns that will contribute to financing its new Arctic Arena stadium, scheduled to open by 2027, to be a new witness to an inspiring story of a team that defied geography and logic to compete with Europe's elite.