Next Thursday promises a feast of football for fans of the beautiful game, with excitement spread across Saudi and European stadiums in an evening that promises plenty of competitive matches. Attention will be particularly focused on the Saudi Professional League, which continues to attract global attention, as well as a new round of matches in the prestigious European league, and the fierce competition in the Yellow Division. This comprehensive guide presents the schedules of the most prominent matches and their significance within each tournament.

Saudi Roshan League: The battle at the top and bottom continues

The Saudi Professional League has become one of the most-watched leagues globally, thanks to attracting international stars and a significantly higher level of competition. Every round is crucial, whether in the title race or the battle to avoid relegation. Thursday's matches will be decisive for several teams striving to achieve their goals.

• Al-Taawon vs. Al-Hazm (6:15 PM): A match in which Al-Taawon seeks to strengthen its position in the Golden Square, while Al-Hazm fights for every point to escape the danger zones.
• Al Hilal vs Al Fayha (8:30 PM): Al Hilal, the league leader and one of the strongest teams in the continent, enters the match with the aim of continuing its winning streak and widening the gap, while Al Fayha hopes to achieve a positive result against a stubborn opponent.
• Al-Qadisiyah vs. Al-Ittihad (8:30 PM): A highly anticipated match between two historic teams. Al-Ittihad aims to improve its position and return to contention for the top spots, while Al-Qadisiyah hopes to capitalize on home advantage and pull off an upset.

Europa League: A crucial night in the group stage

The Europa League is considered the second most important club competition in Europe and offers a crucial pathway to the Champions League, making it a highly competitive tournament. Thursday's matches feature intense clashes between clubs from across the continent, all vying for a place in the knockout stages.

Matches at 8:45 PM:

• PAOK vs Real Betis
• Malmö x Red Star
• Feyenoord vs. Stuttgart
• Viktoria Plzen vs Porto
• Fenerbahce vs Aston Villa
• Young Boys x Lyon
• Bran x Maitland

Matches at 11:00 PM:

• Celta Vigo vs Lille
• Rangers vs Ludogorets Razgrad
• Nice x Go Ahead Eagles
• Roma vs. Stuttgart

Yellow League: Ambition to rise to the top

The Yellow First Division League is no less exciting than the professional league, serving as the gateway to the top flight. Every match in this league is like a final for the teams, who fiercely compete for one of the two direct promotion spots or a playoff place.

• Al-Raed vs. Al-Adalah (4:40 PM): A tough match in the promotion race, as each team seeks to collect the three points to get closer to the dream of returning to the Roshan League.
• Al-Ula vs. Al-Wahda (6:10 PM): Another equally important encounter, as both teams look to improve their position in the standings and maintain their hopes of competing until the end.

Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, leaders of the Saudi Professional League, officially announced the nature of the injury sustained by their Moroccan international goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, sparking widespread concern among the club's fans. In an official statement released on Wednesday, Al-Hilal explained that initial tests revealed Bounou suffered a hamstring injury following his return from representing his country at the recent Africa Cup of Nations.

The statement added that the Moroccan goalkeeper will undergo thorough medical examinations today, including an MRI scan, to accurately determine the extent of the injury and develop an appropriate treatment and rehabilitation program. The sporting community is awaiting the results of these tests to learn the duration of Bono's absence from the pitch, which could impact the team's preparations for the crucial upcoming stage of the season.

Bono's importance in Al-Hilal's system

Yassine Bounou, who joined Al-Hilal in the summer of 2013 from Sevilla FC, is a key pillar of coach Jorge Jesus's squad. Since his arrival, Bounou has delivered exceptional performances, directly contributing to the team's winning streak and numerous clean sheets, which has boosted his confidence and provided significant stability to the defense. Many consider him one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and his presence has been instrumental in Al-Hilal's rise to the top of the league table.

A rich international legacy and the risk of injuries

This injury resulted from fatigue and a string of matches, as Bono was a key player for the Atlas Lions. Bono remains a national icon and hero in his country, especially after his historic role in leading Morocco to an unprecedented achievement: reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the first Arab and African team to reach this stage, thus cementing his status as one of the world's most prominent football stars.

Expected impact on the team

The potential absence of Bono will significantly impact Al Hilal's plans as they prepare for a crucial match against Al Fayha on Thursday evening in the 17th round of the Roshan League. Coach Jesus is expected to rely on Saudi international goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais to fill Bono's role, a significant challenge for Al Owais to prove his worth in protecting Al Hilal's goal amidst fierce competition for the league title and the AFC Champions League. Al Hilal fans are anxiously awaiting the results of the final medical tests, hoping the injury is minor and that their star goalkeeper will return to the pitch quickly to continue the team's journey towards achieving more titles this season.

Football fans around the world, and especially Liverpool supporters, eagerly await the official debut of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah after his return from international duty with his national team at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Salah is set to lead the Reds' attack in a crucial Champions League match, providing a huge morale and tactical boost to the team.

Mohamed Salah will start for Liverpool against Marseille at Anfield tonight at 11:00 PM, in the seventh round of the Champions League group stage. Salah's return comes at a crucial time as the English side looks to strengthen its position in Europe's premier club competition.

The impact of Salah's absence and the importance of his return

During his time with the Egyptian national team, Mohamed Salah missed nine matches for Liverpool across various domestic and continental competitions. His absence posed a significant challenge for the team, which lacked one of its most potent attacking weapons and a game-winning force. Salah is not just a goalscorer; he is a playmaker and an inspirational leader on the pitch, and his absence leaves a void that is difficult to fill.

The return of the "Egyptian King" is not only significant domestically, but also on the European stage. Liverpool relies heavily on Salah's speed, skill, and prolific goal-scoring ability to compete for the Champions League title. His presence also sends a powerful message to rivals that the Reds have regained their full attacking force, increasing the psychological pressure on them in upcoming matches.

All eyes are on Anfield

Internationally, Salah's return has garnered widespread media and public attention, particularly in Egypt and the Arab world, where he is a sporting icon and a source of pride for millions of fans. His performance in today's match will be under intense scrutiny to assess his physical and technical readiness after the immense effort he exerted in the African Cup of Nations. Fans hope their favorite star will continue his brilliant form and lead his team to further victories and titles.

Liverpool's official lineup for the Champions League match against Marseille, announced by Dutch coach Arne Slot, is as follows:

• Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
• Defense: Jeremy Frimpong, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkiz
• Midfield: Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai
• Forwards: Mohamed Salah, Hugo Eketiki, Florian Wirtz