Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens on Saturday evening as Al-Nassr travels to Al-Majma'ah Sports City Stadium to face Al-Fayha in a crucial match for both sides. This encounter is of paramount importance to Al-Nassr, who are looking to extend their impressive winning streak and maintain their lead at the top of the table, while Al-Fayha will be aiming to capitalize on home advantage and secure a positive result to solidify their position in the mid-table.

History of confrontations and Al-Nasr's advantage

Looking at the statistics and history, Al-Nassr clearly holds the advantage in the head-to-head record between the two teams in the Saudi Professional League. They have met 15 times previously, with Al-Nassr dominating, winning 10 matches, while Al-Fayha managed only one victory, and four matches ended in a draw. In terms of goals, Al-Nassr's attack has found the net 31 times against Al-Fayha, while Al-Fayha's attack has scored only 11 goals, reflecting the historical disparity in skill between the two sides.

The two teams' positions in the standings

Al-Nassr enters the match sitting atop the Roshan League standings with 58 points, accumulated from a remarkable run that included 19 wins, one draw, and only three losses. The team is enjoying a period of high technical stability, having achieved nine consecutive victories that have allowed them to secure their place at the top, and they aim to achieve their tenth consecutive win today. Meanwhile, Al-Fayha occupies eleventh place with 27 points, having recorded seven wins, six draws, and ten losses, and they hope to improve their position and distance themselves completely from the relegation zone.

A squad of stars and continental achievements

Al-Nassr will rely on a formidable array of international stars in this match, spearheaded by Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo and his compatriot João Félix, in addition to a strong defense comprised of Frenchman Mohamed Simakan and his compatriot Kingsley Coman, Brazilian Angelo Gabriel, Croatian midfield maestro Marcelo Brozović, Senegalese star Sadio Mané, and the outstanding full-back Sultan Al-Ghannam. This match comes just before Al-Nassr's anticipated quarter-final clash against Al-Wasl of the UAE in the AFC Champions League, presenting the coach with the challenge of balancing the league title race with preparations for the Asian competition.

Al-Fayhaa... the ambition of surprise

On the other hand, Al-Fayha cannot be underestimated, having recently shown improved form, recording four wins and a draw in their last seven matches. The team boasts players capable of making a difference, such as Panamanian goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, experienced English defender Chris Smalling, Spaniard Jason Remeseiro, talented Algerian Yacine Benzia, Venezuelan Mikel Villanueva, the dangerous Zambian Fashion Sakala, and Guinean Alpha Semedo. This match will be a true test of Al-Fayha's ability to compete with the top teams and confirm their recent resurgence.

In a major blow to Al-Shabab's tactical plans just hours before the highly anticipated Riyadh derby, the club announced in an official statement the absence of their star Brazilian player from the upcoming match against Al-Hilal. The two teams are preparing to compete in the 24th round of the Saudi Professional League, in a match to be held at the Kingdom Arena, Al-Hilal's new home ground, adding a special layer of excitement to the encounter.

Al-Shabab's media center published a statement on its official X platform confirming the absence of Brazilian star Carlos Junior from the squad for the upcoming match. The statement attributed his exclusion to a recent injury, which prevented him from reaching the necessary technical and physical readiness for a match of this magnitude, importance, and high level of competition.

The troubles for the "Sheikh of Clubs" didn't end there, as it was also confirmed that Unai Hernandez would miss the Al-Hilal match. Hernandez's exclusion was due to the same medical reasons; he is suffering from an injury that prevented him from participating in recent group training sessions, making his exclusion inevitable due to his lack of physical readiness to keep up with the expected fast pace of the match against the league leaders.

Tactical challenges facing Benzekri against Inzaghi

These significant absences put coach Noureddine Benzekri in an unenviable position, as he must find alternative solutions to compensate for the attacking prowess represented by Carlos Junior. Benzekri, known for his fighting spirit and ability to motivate his players, is aiming to pull off a major upset against his counterpart, Simone Inzaghi, the Al-Hilal coach, whose team has been steadily progressing in the competition.

The Al-Shabab coach hopes to continue his team's positive run of results this season, relying on tactical discipline and teamwork to compensate for technical deficiencies and forced absences. This match is a true test of Al-Shabab's ability to withstand Al-Hilal's formidable attacking force, especially since it is being played away from home.

The importance of the Riyadh derby in the Roshan League

Matches between Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab always hold immense importance in Saudi Arabian sports circles, not only because they are the Riyadh derby, but also because of their direct impact on the league standings. This particular match comes at a time when Saudi football is experiencing tremendous development and attracting international stars, making every game a top-tier affair. A victory in such encounters not only grants three points but also provides a tremendous morale boost for the winning team, propelling them forward in the tournament.

In a significant legal development, the Court of Appeal in Aix-en-Provence, France, brought to a close a complex chapter in the legal proceedings against former French international star Wissam Ben Yedder. On Thursday, the court overturned the decision to refer the player to the criminal court in the Alpes-Maritimes region, where he faced serious rape charges, citing a lack of "sufficient evidence" to convict him, according to judicial sources who spoke to AFP.

Details of the court ruling and the player's acquittal

Informed sources within the Court of Appeal confirmed the accuracy of the reports published by the sports newspaper "L'Équipe," indicating that the investigating chamber issued its decision on February 26, which cancels the previous indictment issued on November 3, 2025. The previous order stipulated that Ben Yedder be tried in two cases of rape and attempted rape, but the judicial body saw that "there is no basis for prosecution," thus going against the requests of the public prosecutor's office, which insisted on proceeding with the trial.

The roots of this case go back to 2023, when an extensive investigation was opened involving Wissam Ben Yedder and his brother Sabri, based on allegations made by two young women following a meeting at a party, accusations which the player has categorically denied from the very beginning.

Reactions: Wissam Ben Yedder's relief and defense

The current striker for Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca was quick to express his delight at this legal victory. On his official X account, Ben Yedder wrote: "I am happy with the court's decision. I have always maintained my innocence, and today the Court of Appeal has vindicated me." He also thanked all the fans and close friends who supported him during this difficult period.

For her part, his lawyer, Sofia Karbaa, told AFP that the defense team was completely satisfied with the verdict, stressing that her client had maintained his innocence throughout the investigations.

Between footballing brilliance and legal troubles

This ruling comes at a time when Ben Yedder (35 years old) is trying to regain his professional footing. The player, who etched his name in gold in the history of AS Monaco (2019-2024) as the second-highest scorer in the club's history, and represented the French national team "Les Bleus" in 19 international matches, has in recent years found himself more of a hot topic in the crime pages than in the sports pages.

In addition to the case that was recently dismissed, Ben Yedder has faced a series of legal challenges, including a €90,000 fine for psychological abuse of his ex-wife and a conviction in Spain for tax evasion during his time playing for Sevilla. He also previously received a two-year suspended sentence in another sexual assault case, a verdict he has appealed.

A new chapter with Wydad Athletic Club

On the sporting front, Ben Yedder is seeking to turn the page on the past and refocus on football. After a short and unstable journey that included attempts to play in Iran with Sepahan and in Turkey with Sakaryaspor, he landed in Morocco at the beginning of this year, signing a six-month contract with Wydad Athletic Club, with an option to extend, hoping that this move will be a new beginning that will restore his brilliance on the field.