French coach Christopher Galtier, manager of Neom FC, directly and frankly addressed the anger displayed by the team's captain, veteran star Salman Al-Faraj, after he was substituted and left the field during the match against Al-Riyadh. This match was part of the 21st round of the Roshan Professional League, held at King Khalid Sports City Stadium, and ended in a valuable victory for Neom.

In the post-match press conference, Galtier downplayed the incident, placing it within the context of normal football emotions. The French coach said, "What Salman Al-Faraj did is perfectly normal in football; great players always want to be on the pitch. My decision was purely tactical; I wanted to bring on more dynamic and energetic players in midfield to ensure control during the crucial final minutes.".

The former Paris Saint-Germain coach explained the tactical reasons for the substitution: "The decision was based on the players' performances during the match. Salman Al-Faraj and his teammate Amadou weren't posing the necessary attacking threat to Al-Riyadh's goal, which necessitated a change to revitalize the team." Galtier indicated that he had warned Al-Faraj and Amadou about their lack of attacking threat during the game, emphasizing that he would discuss the matter calmly with the players during upcoming training sessions to ensure team stability.

This incident comes at a time when NEOM FC is striving to establish itself as a major force in the Saudi League, benefiting from the vast experience of Salman Al-Faraj, the former captain of the Saudi national team and Al-Hilal. Al-Faraj is known for his intense passion and dedication to the team, which explains his angry reaction—a characteristic often found in players with a strong desire to win.

From a technical standpoint, Galtier's approach reflects the tactical discipline of the French coach, who prioritizes the team's collective interest above any individual considerations—an approach that has helped the team achieve positive results this season. The course of the match proved the coach's vision correct, as Neom secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from international star Alexandre Lacazette. This win extends the team's winning streak and strengthens their position in the Roshan League standings, confirming that Neom's sporting project is on the right track towards competing for titles.

Uruguayan Daniel Carreño, the head coach of Al-Riyadh's first football team, made important statements after his team's match against Neom, which resulted in Al-Riyadh's loss in the match that brought them together as part of the twenty-first round of the Saudi Professional League, at King Khalid Sports City Stadium.

Technical analysis of the first half

In the post-match press conference, Carreño provided a detailed technical analysis of the game, noting that the first half was characterized by competitiveness and relative parity between the two sides. The experienced coach explained that Neom successfully imposed their style of play by dominating possession and controlling the midfield, which gave them a numerical advantage at certain points in the match.

Carreño added: "Despite Neom's dominance, we succeeded in implementing a good defensive organization, and our strategy relied on quick counter-attacks to exploit the spaces behind the opponent's defenses, but unfortunately we were unable to take advantage of the opportunities that were available to us in the required manner to translate them into goals.".

The turning point and the goalkeepers' brilliance

The Riyadh coach addressed the second half, which saw Neom take the lead with the winning goal, emphasizing that his team tried to equalize. He said, "In the second half, the opponent managed to score, and despite our continuous efforts and creating several clear scoring opportunities, the brilliance of Neom's goalkeeper prevented us from doing so, as he saved more than one dangerous shot that could have changed the course of the match.".

Competition context of the Roshan League

This match comes at a time of intense competition in the second half of the Saudi Professional League season, with mid-table teams like Al-Riyadh striving to secure their positions and avoid relegation. This loss is a setback for the "Central School" (Al-Riyadh's nickname), who are trying to maintain consistent performances under the guidance of coach Carreno, known for his extensive experience in Saudi football and his tactical discipline.

Daniel Carreño is known for his style, which blends defensive discipline with a high fighting spirit ("grinta"), a quality clearly demonstrated by Al-Riyadh's defense's resilience throughout much of the match against Neom's relentless pressure. The crucial rounds of the league serve as a true test of a coach's ability to handle pressure and quickly turn things around.

Cariño concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the team will analyze the mistakes made during the Neom match and seek to continue developing and improving in the upcoming rounds, stressing that the league is still long and that the team has the potential to return to winning ways.

The eyes of football fans in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world will be on Marsoul Park Stadium this Friday evening to watch one of the fiercest football matches, as Al-Nassr hosts its traditional rival, Al-Ittihad, in a fiery Saudi classic that falls within the current round of the Saudi Professional League.

This match carries added significance beyond the pitch; it's not merely a battle for three points, but a historic encounter between the giants of Riyadh and Jeddah, reflecting the development of Saudi football, which has become the focus of global attention. This meeting comes at a crucial juncture in the competition, with the race for the top four heating up, making any mistake unacceptable for either team.

Ronaldo's absence and the challenges of Al-Nassr in El Clásico

Al-Nassr enters this match without its captain and star player, the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who is missing his second consecutive league game this season. This absence presents Al-Nassr's coaching staff with a difficult tactical challenge: finding alternative attacking solutions capable of penetrating Al-Ittihad's defense and compensating for the immense scoring power of the "Madeira Rocket.".

Despite this painful blow, Al-Nasr fans are counting on the available arsenal of local stars and other foreign professionals, driven by an unbridled desire to take advantage of the postponed match that the team has, which is considered the "trump card" to reduce the points gap with the leader and return strongly to the title race.

Complex calculations and a three-way struggle for the top spot

The top of the Roshan League standings is witnessing a complex mathematical battle with no room for compromise, as three clubs are vying for the lead:

• Al-Hilal: sits atop the standings with 50 points from 20 matches.
• Al-Ahly: is chasing them in second place with 47 points from 20 matches.
• Al-Nasr: Comes third with 46 points, but from only 19 matches.

These numbers make winning an inevitable option for Al-Nasr to ensure remaining in the direct competition circle, and any stumble could widen the gap with Al-Hilal and give Al-Ahli a chance to strengthen its second place.

Al-Ittihad's ambitions to restore prestige

On the other hand, Al-Ittihad will not be an easy opponent, as the "Dean" enters the match with high morale after their valuable victory in the last round, which raised their points tally to 36. Al-Ittihad seeks to exploit Al-Nasr's circumstances and absences to achieve a morale-boosting and technical victory that restores the team's balance and prestige against the top teams, and confirms its ability to return to competing for the top positions in the remainder of the season.

Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match date and broadcast channels

Here are the details of the upcoming meeting:

• Match: Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad
• Tournament: Saudi Professional League
• Time: Friday evening
• Stadium: Marsall Park
• Broadcasting channel: Eight

The most prominent question that occupies the minds of the fans remains: Will Al-Nassr succeed in overcoming the absence of Ronaldo and snatching points to compete with Al-Hilal, or will Al-Ittihad turn the tables and return to Jeddah with a valuable victory from the heart of Riyadh?