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.

Mirgen Orazov, the technical director of the Turkmenistan team Arkadag, confirmed his team’s complete readiness to play the anticipated and difficult match against their Saudi counterpart Al-Nasr, expressing his hope to come out with a positive result that reflects the development of Turkmen football, despite the large technical differences between the two sides.

During Tuesday's press conference to discuss the details of the match, Orazov spoke about Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of Al-Nassr. The coach indicated that, despite the significant threat Ronaldo poses to any opponent's defense, he hopes he will participate in the match, believing that playing against world-class stars gives his players an extra incentive and invaluable experience.

The Arkadag coach added, “Ronaldo is an exceptional and distinguished player who continues to perform at a high level befitting his illustrious career. His presence adds significant attacking power and a strong presence to Al-Nassr.” Orazov emphasized his complete awareness of the strength of the opponent, which boasts a constellation of world-class stars in various positions, making his team's task extremely difficult, especially since the match is being played on Al-Nassr's home ground and in front of their fans.

These statements come in the context of preparations for the decisive second leg, where the Turkmen team seeks to put on a respectable performance and attempt to overturn their first-leg defeat. Arkadag suffered a narrow 1-0 home loss to Al-Nassr in the first leg of the Round of 16, a result that theoretically keeps the tie open, despite the daunting task ahead in Riyadh.

This match holds particular significance in the Asian football scene, as Al-Nassr aims to advance towards the continental title, relying on its star-studded squad, while Arkadag seeks to prove itself on the continent's biggest stages. Al-Nassr is scheduled to host Arkadag at 9:15 PM tomorrow, Wednesday, in the second leg of the Round of 16 of the Asian Champions League, in a highly anticipated football match.

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.