Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens tomorrow evening, Friday, as Al-Qadisiyah travels to Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Najran to face Al-Akhdoud in a crucial match in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League. This game comes at a critical juncture for both teams, whose ambitions differ between securing a top-flight status and battling to avoid relegation.

Al-Qadisiyah enters the match with its sights set on nothing less than three points, aiming to continue its strong performances this season and solidify its place in the top four. The Eastern Province team currently sits fourth in the standings with 47 points, accumulated from a remarkable run that includes 14 wins and five draws, suffering only two defeats. The Al-Qadisiyah players are well aware that any slip-up could jeopardize their ambitions of competing for continental qualification spots, especially after the dramatic turn of events in the last round when they snatched a last-gasp victory against Neom, compensating for their previous draw against Al-Fateh.

On the other hand, Al-Akhdoud finds itself in a precarious position, languishing in 17th place (second to last) with a mere 10 points. The team is suffering a sharp decline in results, having failed to secure a victory in its last seven matches since its sole win against Al-Kholoud, most recently suffering a defeat against Al-Hazm. Despite the daunting task against a star-studded Al-Qadisiyah side, Al-Akhdoud will rely on home advantage and the support of its fans, hoping to replicate the performance of the first leg and achieve a positive result that will revive its hopes of remaining in the top flight.

Historically, the two teams have met three times in the Professional League, with Al-Qadisiyah holding the advantage with a single 2-0 victory, while the other two matches ended in goalless draws. This suggests that Al-Akhdoud can sometimes prove a formidable defensive opponent. The match carries particular significance due to its direct impact on the league standings, both at the top and bottom, making it a fiercely competitive affair that transcends the mere three-pointer.

On the technical front, Al-Qadisiyah relies on a squad of international and local stars who have made a difference this season, led by the reliable Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels and Spanish defensive leader Nacho Fernandez, along with German Julian Weigl and Uruguayan Nahitan Nandez in midfield. In attack, the Mexican Julian Quignoni and the Italian Matteo Rettigny stand out, supported by young local talents such as Musab Al-Juwair, Jihad Zikri, and Mohammed Abu Shamat.

In contrast, Al-Akhdoud is relying on its foreign professionals to try and pull off an upset, most notably Norwegian Tokmac Nguyen, Brazilian Samuel Lima, Colombian Juan Pedroza, Cameroonian Christian Bassogog and his compatriot Ivan Nio, and Togolese Khaled Nari. These players will have to give their all to halt Al-Qadsia's advance and try to salvage their team's season before it's too late.

The technical staff of the Saudi Al-Ahli team received a huge moral and technical boost hours before their anticipated match against Al-Najma, after it was definitively confirmed that the team’s main pillars, Senegalese goalkeeper Edward Mendy and Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie, are ready to participate as starters during the match.

The duo participated actively in Wednesday evening's training session, demonstrating full physical and technical readiness to face Al-Najma, thus marking their return from injury. This comes at an ideal time for the team, nicknamed "Al-Raqui," especially after their absence from the crucial AFC Champions League group stage match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai, an absence that significantly impacted the coach's tactical options.

Al-Ahli vs. Al-Najma match date and team standings

Al-Ahli is scheduled to host Al-Najma at 10:00 PM tonight, Thursday, in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League. Al-Ahli enters the match aiming for three points to solidify its position in the top four. Before the game, the team sits in third place in the standings with 50 points, accumulated from a series of victories and an upward trajectory in performance that it seeks to continue tonight.

In contrast, Al-Najma team is in an unenviable situation, as it is at the bottom of the competition table with only (8) points, which makes the match a lifeline to try to escape the specter of relegation, which may make the encounter a trap despite the large technical differences between the two sides.

The importance of Kessie and Mendy's return to tactical balance

The return of Franck Kessié is of paramount importance to Al Ahly's midfield, as the Ivorian player is the lifeblood of the team, thanks to his exceptional ability to win back possession, link up play between the lines, and contribute significantly to the attack. Kessié's absence usually leaves a void in the heart of the pitch, and his return today means the team regains its defensive solidity and its ability to control the midfield.

On the other hand, Edouard Mendy represents a safety valve in goal. The Senegalese goalkeeper, a former international award winner, provides the defense with great confidence and constant guidance, and his return is crucial to ensuring a clean sheet in a match where the opponent might rely on swift counter-attacks.

The competitive context and the expectations of the fans

This match comes at a crucial juncture in the league, as the battle for continental qualification spots and the title race intensifies. Al-Ahli fans are counting on a full squad to maintain pressure on the league leaders and runners-up. The Al-Najma match presents an ideal opportunity to secure all three points, given the disparity in resources. However, the world of football only recognizes the effort exerted on the pitch, a fact well understood by Al-Ahli's players, who are determined to avoid any surprises that could derail their successful season.

Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens on Friday evening as Damac hosts Al-Shabab at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha in a crucial and potentially explosive match. This encounter, part of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, is of paramount importance to both teams, who are struggling in the standings and desperately need the three points to escape the relegation zone.

The struggle to escape the specter of landing

Both teams enter the match with the motto "No to an eleventh defeat," as they both experience similar inconsistent results. Damac, playing at home, hopes to capitalize on the significant morale boost gained in the last round, having broken a nine-match winless streak with a valuable victory against Al-Taawoun. The "Knights of the South" aim for their second consecutive win to secure their position in the mid-table, relying on their full squad and the readiness of their key players.

The history of the encounters favors Al-Ahly

In terms of historical statistics in the Saudi Professional League, Al-Shabab clearly holds the advantage. The two sides have met 13 times previously, with Al-Shabab dominating, winning 8 matches, while Damac managed only one victory, and 4 ended in a draw. Furthermore, Al-Shabab's attack is clearly superior, having scored 22 goals against Damac, compared to 12 goals scored by the southern team's attack.

The two teams' positions in the standings

Damac enters the match in 15th place with 15 points, accumulated from two wins and nine draws, while suffering defeat in 10 matches. Al-Shabab's situation isn't much better, as they sit in 14th place with 19 points, having secured four wins, seven draws, and 10 losses – a position unbecoming of the Riyadh-based club's history and prestige.

A tough test for Ben Zekri's battalion

This match will be a true test for experienced Algerian coach Noureddine Benzekri, the manager of Al-Shabab, who took over to rescue the team. Despite a relative improvement in results at the beginning, the team has recently returned to a losing streak, suffering a heavy defeat against Al-Kholoud and then a crushing loss in the derby against Al-Ahli. Benzekri is relying on his extensive experience in Saudi football and his familiarity with Damac FC (which he previously coached, achieving success in avoiding relegation) to overcome this difficult hurdle.

Star Battalion and Lethal Weapons

Both teams boast impressive rosters capable of making a difference. Damac relies on the solidity of its Brazilian goalkeeper, Kiwin Silva, the experience of Algerian defender Abdelkader Bedrane, the dynamism of Guinean Morlaye Sylla, in addition to Argentinian Valentin Vada, Moroccan Jamal Harkas, Congolese Jonathan Okita, Syrian Mohammed Al-Salakhdi, and Ivorian Yakou Meite.

In contrast, Al-Shabab enters the match boasting a star-studded lineup, including veteran Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe, Belgian Yannick Carrasco, Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, Frenchman Yacine Adli, Englishman Josh Brownhill, Brazilian Carlos Junior, and Jordanian talent Ali Al-Azaizeh. Ultimately, the pitch will determine who can best utilize these players to secure all three points.