Sources within Al-Ahli Saudi FC have revealed the latest developments regarding Turkish defender Merih Demiral's availability for the upcoming match against Al-Najma. Al-Ahli is preparing to face Al-Najma in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League, in a crucial match to be held at Al-Inma Stadium, where the team aims to continue its positive run of results.

Sources close to the club's medical staff confirmed that Merih Demiral will undergo a crucial medical test in the next few hours to determine his physical and technical readiness for the upcoming match. Initial indications suggest it is unlikely the player will be fit to play, given his lack of participation in team training sessions thus far. This makes his exclusion the most probable option, as there is no need to risk him before he is 100% fit.

The importance of Demiral and the impact of his absence on Al Ahly's defense

Merih Demiral is a key pillar of Al-Ahli's defense. Since joining the team, the Turkish defender has been a rock in the back line thanks to his extensive international experience and physical strength in tackles. The absence of a player of Demiral's caliber presents the coach with a tactical challenge: finding a suitable replacement who can fill the defensive gap and maintain a clean sheet in a crucial match like the one against Al-Najma.

A morale boost after the thrilling victory over Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai

Al Ahli enters this match with high morale after their recent thrilling victory over Shabab Al Ahli Dubai. The last encounter ended 4-3 in a dramatic match also played at Al Inma Stadium. Despite the impressive attacking performance, conceding three goals highlights the importance of defensive stability, which justifies concerns about Demiral's fitness for both fans and the coaching staff.

The context of the competition in the Roshan Professional League

This match comes at a crucial juncture in the Roshan Professional League, as the competition intensifies with the decisive rounds approaching. Al-Ahli aims to secure its position at the top of the standings and compete strongly for both domestic and continental titles. League matches, regardless of the opponent, are pivotal for top teams aspiring to championships, making it all the more important to prepare all key players for the upcoming stage.

In a decisive administrative move aimed at correcting the team's course, the management of Al-Shabab Saudi Club officially announced the assignment of national coach Abdullah Al-Mutairi and his assistant staff to take over the technical leadership of the first football team, to lead the "Leith" in its anticipated match against its counterpart, Tadhamon Hadramout of Yemen, following the decision to terminate the contract with the Spanish technical director, Emanuel Alguacil.

Al Shabab is preparing to host its counterpart, Tadamun Hadramout, on Tuesday evening, in a crucial match that will take place as part of the sixth and final round of the group stage in the Gulf Champions League for Clubs, a tournament that Al Shabab seeks to compete for in order to compensate for the fluctuation of local results.

The club's management issued a statement earlier today confirming the termination of the contractual relationship with Spanish coach Imanol Alguacil and his coaching staff by mutual agreement, thanking them for their time with the team. This decision comes in response to the demands of the club's fans and the management's desire to create a positive shock within the locker room to improve the team's performance.

Looking at the numbers that hastened the departure of the Spanish coach, Alguacil took over the job last July amid great ambitions, but the results were disappointing; he led the team in (24) matches in various competitions, during which he was only able to achieve victory in (6) matches, while he fell into the trap of a draw in (7) encounters, and suffered the bitterness of defeat in (11) matches, which is a numerical result that does not correspond to the history and status of Al-Shabab Club as one of the pillars of Saudi football.

Today's match is doubly important, not only because it concludes the group stage, but also because it represents the first test for national coach Abdullah Al-Mutairi, who bears the responsibility of restoring the players' fighting spirit and quickly reorganizing the team's tactics. Turning to national coaches during crises is a common strategy in Saudi clubs, given their ability to quickly connect with players on a psychological level and their understanding of the unique nature of local and regional competitions.

On the regional level, the Gulf Champions League represents a golden opportunity for Al Shabab to return to the podiums of external championships, as the team is considered one of the strong candidates for the title, given the technical differences and continental experience it possesses compared to some of its competitors, which makes the match against Tadhamon Hadramout a key step to confirm its worthiness and qualify for the knockout stages with high morale.

Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, manager of Al-Nassr's first football team, has finalized his decision on the goalkeeper who will defend the team's net in the upcoming match against Turkmenistan's Arkadağ. This match is part of the second leg of the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League, and will be held at Al-Nassr's home stadium, Al-Ahli Park in Riyadh.

Al-Nassr's starting lineup for this continental match features a notable change in the goalkeeper position, with coach Jesus opting to bring young goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi back into the starting eleven. This tactical decision aims to give Al-Aqidi the opportunity to play and demonstrate his technical and physical readiness, especially given the intense competition for that position within the team.

In a related development, the Portuguese coach's decision includes resting first-choice Brazilian goalkeeper Pinto Matheus, who has delivered outstanding performances and featured consistently in a series of consecutive matches recently, both in domestic competitions like the Roshan League and the King's Cup, as well as in continental competitions. The coaching staff aims, through this rotation policy, to maintain the fitness of the key players and prevent muscle fatigue before the crucial stages of the season.

Returning to the previous encounter between the two teams, Al-Nassr secured a valuable 1-0 victory in the first leg against Arkadag. The winning goal was scored by striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan, who skillfully capitalized on a loose ball, giving his team a comfortable advantage heading into the return leg.

This match holds particular significance for Al-Nassr's ambitions to compete for the continental title in its new format, the "AFC Champions League 2." Saudi clubs are striving to dominate Asian tournaments under their various names, and a victory in this match would represent a crucial step towards advancing to the later stages and seriously competing for the trophy. Furthermore, including players like Al-Aqidi strengthens the squad and ensures the readiness of substitutes for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise during the long and demanding season.

Al-Nassr fans are placing great hope in coach Jorge Jesus's experience in managing such knockout matches, as it requires a delicate balance between securing qualification and preserving the players' energy for the intense domestic competitions. Al-Aqidi's return is considered a golden opportunity for the goalkeeper to regain his match sharpness and re-establish himself as one of the top goalkeepers in Saudi football.