In a thrilling encounter in the 25th round of the Italian Serie A, defending champions Napoli snatched a valuable late draw against their closest rivals, Roma, with a final score of 2-2. This draw salvaged some pride for the southern Italian side amidst their current struggles, thanks in large part to a late goal from new Brazilian signing Alisson Santos just eight minutes before the final whistle.

This match, historically known as the "Derby del Sole" (Derby of the Sun), holds special significance beyond just the three points; it represents a traditional struggle for supremacy in central and southern Italy. Both teams entered the game under immense pressure: Napoli sought to appease their fans after a shocking penalty shootout defeat to Coppa Italia quarter-finalists Coppa Italia, while Roma aimed to close the gap and forcefully break into the top four.

With this result, Napoli raised its tally to 50 points, maintaining third place, three points ahead of Roma, which reached 47 points. Despite Roma missing the opportunity to draw level on points with Napoli, the "Wolves" benefited from Juventus' stumble and its loss in the crazy "Derby d'Italia" against league leaders Inter by a score of 3-4, allowing Roma to climb to fourth place, just one point behind the Old Lady, thus intensifying the battle for Champions League qualification spots in the upcoming rounds.

Technically, the match began with both sides applying pressure. Dutchman Donyell Malen, on loan from Aston Villa, surprised the home side with an early goal for Roma in the seventh minute following a counter-attack led by Spaniard Bryan Zaragoza. However, Napoli showed their mettle before halftime, with Leonardo Spinazzola equalizing in the 40th minute with a powerful shot that deflected off a defender and into the net. In the second half, Roma regained the lead through a penalty successfully converted by Malen in the 70th minute, before substitute Alisson Santos intervened, firing a low shot in the 82nd minute to secure a point for Antonio Conte's team.

Elsewhere in the same round, Bologna kept their European hopes alive with a crucial 2-1 away win against Torino. The match was marred by widespread protests from Torino fans against the club's management, leaving the stands nearly empty. Santiago Castro and an own goal by Vlasic secured the victory for Bologna, lifting them to 33 points and eighth place in the standings.

In other matches, Sassuolo secured a valuable 2-1 victory over Udinese thanks to goals from Armand Llorente and Andrea Pinamonti, strengthening their mid-table position with 32 points. The round also saw a dramatic 2-1 win for Parma against Hellas Verona, with Matteo Pellegrino scoring a last-gasp winner after Verona were down to ten men. Meanwhile, Genoa and Cremonese played out a goalless draw.

The great Syrian star Omar Al-Somah, the all-time top scorer in the Saudi Professional League, sparked widespread reaction in sports circles with his recent statements in which he praised the young striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan, a player for Al-Hilal Club, describing him as the best pure Saudi striker (number 9) at the present time.

Testimonial from a window expert

Omar Al-Somah's words carry significant weight in Saudi football circles, given his legendary career with Al-Ahli, where he broke records and became a benchmark in the center-forward position. Al-Somah emphasized that Abdullah Al-Hamdan possesses exceptional technical abilities and a remarkable goal-scoring instinct, setting him apart from his local peers in this crucial role. However, he added that the circumstances surrounding Al-Hamdan might hinder him from fully realizing his potential.

Opportunity crisis at big clubs

Al-Somah pointed out a crucial issue facing local talents at major clubs (Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli): the scarcity of regular playing time. He explained that Al-Hamdan's presence at a club the size of Al-Hilal, which is teeming with international stars and top-class foreign strikers, significantly reduces his available playing minutes, negatively impacting his consistency and development.

The context of the transformation in the Saudi League

These statements come at a time when the Saudi Professional League (the Roshan League) is experiencing an unprecedented qualitative leap, characterized by the attraction of some of the world's best strikers. This transformation, while raising the league's market and technical value, has presented the traditional Saudi striker with a difficult challenge to prove himself. The presence of world-class players occupying the center-forward position in the top four clubs has made it difficult for coaches to rely on local talent as their first choice, a situation that perfectly applies to Abdullah Al-Hamdan.

Impact on the national team

Al-Somah's recent comments have opened the door to a broader discussion about the future of the Saudi national team's attacking options. With local strikers receiving limited playing time at their clubs, national team coaches face the challenge of finding a striker ready and competitive for international competitions. Abdullah Al-Hamdan is considered a key player for the future of Saudi football, and therefore, ensuring he receives sufficient playing time, whether with Al-Hilal or through other opportunities, is a national priority to guarantee a continued flow of goals for the Green Falcons.

In conclusion, Omar Al-Somah’s testimony remains a badge of honor for Al-Hamdan, and an indirect call to reconsider how to invest in local talents amidst the influx of international stars, to ensure that the classic Saudi striker does not disappear.

Omar Al-Somah sparked widespread reaction in sports circles with his recent statements in which he praised the young striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan , a player for Al-Hilal Club, describing him as the best Saudi striker currently in the position of a pure center forward (number 9).

Al-Somah's technical opinion on Al-Hamdan

Al-Somah emphasized that Abdullah Al-Hamdan possesses exceptional technical abilities that qualify him to be the top striker in the Kingdom, highlighting his tactical intelligence and impressive movement within the penalty area. Al-Somah clarified that Al-Hamdan lacks not talent, but rather consistent playing time, stating clearly that his chances of securing a regular starting position with major clubs (like Al-Hilal) appear extremely limited and difficult.

The challenge of foreign professionals in the Saudi League

Al-Somah's statements highlight a crucial issue currently facing Saudi football: the scarcity of local strikers, given the major clubs' complete reliance on world-class foreign forwards. At Al-Hilal, Al-Hamdan finds himself in near-impossible competition with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, significantly reducing his playing time and often forcing him to the bench or play out of position.

The value of Omar Al-Somah's opinion

This opinion carries particular weight coming from Omar Al-Somah, a legendary figure in the Saudi attacking midfield. Al-Somah, who has enjoyed a golden era with Al-Ahli and broken numerous records, is acutely aware of the demands of succeeding in this crucial position, making his praise for Al-Hamdan a significant morale booster for the young player.

The implications of this for the Saudi national team

This statement opens the door to a broader discussion about the future of the Saudi national team's (the Green Falcons') attack. With local strikers rarely starting in the Roshan League, national team coaches face challenges in finding a striker who is physically and technically ready for international competitions. Analysts believe the solution might lie in loaning out some players, such as Al-Hamdan, to clubs that guarantee them consistent playing time to develop their skills and ultimately benefit Saudi football.